Surface Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes for Energy Applications

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are receiving a great deal of attention as a catalyst support for different energy applications, due to their high surface area and high conductivity. Recent literature studies have shown that the application of CNTs mainly depends on their surface functionalization process. Typically, pristine CNTs (as produced) have no functional groups, which is usually considered as an obstacle to their widespread application. In this chapter, we highlight the different techniques used to functionalize the surface of CNTs, including physical and chemical functionalization processes. We show the advantages and the drawbacks of the different functionalization processes. Additionally, we explain in detail the different techniques used to characterize the CNTs before and after functionalization processes. Furthermore, we focus on polymer wrapping techniques of CNTs to create active nanocomposite materials for energy applications, in particular the applications in the agriculture field to fight pollution and make farming activity easier and more efficient

Low temperature fullerene encapsulation in single wall carbon nanotubes: synthesis of N@C60_{60}@SWCNT

High filling of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) with C$_{60}$ and C$_{70}$ fullerenes in solvent is reported at temperatures as low as 69 $^{o}$C. A 2 hour long refluxing in n-hexane of the mixture of the fullerene and SWCNT results in a high yield of C$_{60}$,C$_{70}$@SWCNT, fullerene peapod, material. The peapod filling is characterized by TEM, Raman and electron energy loss spectroscopy and X-ray scattering. We applied the method to synthesize the temperature sensitive (N@C$_{60}$:C$_{60}$)@SWCNT as proved by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The solvent prepared peapod samples can be transformed to double walled nanotubes enabling a high yield and industrially scalable production of DWCNT

Enhancing surface heat transfer by carbon nanofins: towards an alternative to nanofluids?

Background: Nanofluids are suspensions of nanoparticles and fibers which have recently attracted much attention because of their superior thermal properties. Nevertheless, it was proven that, due to modest dispersion of nanoparticles, such high expectations often remain unmet. In this article, by introducing the notion of nanofin, a possible solution is envisioned, where nanostructures with high aspect-ratio are sparsely attached to a solid surface (to avoid a significant disturbance on the fluid dynamic structures), and act as efficient thermal bridges within the boundary layer. As a result, particles are only needed in a small region of the fluid, while dispersion can be controlled in advance through design and manufacturing processes. Results: Toward the end of implementing the above idea, we focus on single carbon nanotubes to enhance heat transfer between a surface and a fluid in contact with it. First, we investigate the thermal conductivity of the latter nanostructures by means of classical non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Next, thermal conductance at the interface between a single wall carbon nanotube (nanofin) and water molecules is assessed by means of both steady-state and transient numerical experiments. Conclusions: Numerical evidences suggest a pretty favorable thermal boundary conductance (order of 107 W·m-2·K-1) which makes carbon nanotubes potential candidates for constructing nanofinned surface

Changes in the Demographic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer : A Population-Based Investigation in Algeria, 1993-2013

Peer reviewedPostprintPublisher PD

A Circulating MicroRNA Profile in a Laser-Induced Mouse Model of Choroidal Neovascularization

Funding: This research was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR5065/1-1). Author Contributions: Conceptualization, F.G. and B.H.F.W.; Data curation, T.S.; Formal analysis, P.B., M.K., A.A., and T.S.; Funding acquisition, C.K. and F.G.; Investigation, M.K. and B.H.F.W.; Methodology, C.K. and A.A.;Project administration, B.H.F.W.; Resources, M.K., A.A., T.L., and F.G.; Software, C.K. and T.S.; Supervision, T.L., F.G., and B.H.F.W.; Validation, P.B.; Visualization, C.K.; Writing—original draft, C.K. and P.B.; Writing—review & editing, B.H.F.W. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Interferon score is increased in incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus and correlates with myxovirus-resistance protein A in blood and skin

OBJECTIVES: Patients with incomplete systemic lupus erythematosus (iSLE) have lupus features, but do not meet classification criteria for SLE. Type I interferons (IFN) are important early mediators in SLE, and IFN upregulation in incomplete SLE may be associated with progression to SLE. Since many patients present with skin symptoms, the aim of this study is to investigate IFN type I expression and IFN-related mediators in the blood and skin of iSLE patients.METHODS: Twenty-nine iSLE patients (ANA titer ≥ 1:80, symptoms &lt; 5 years, ≥ 1 objectified clinical criterion), 39 SLE patients with quiescent disease (fulfilling ACR or SLICC criteria, SLEDAI ≤4), and 22 healthy controls were included. IFN signature was measured in whole blood, based on 12 IFN-related genes, using RT-PCR, and IFN-score was calculated. IFN-related mediators myxovirus-resistance protein A (MxA), IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) were measured using ELISA. IFN type I expression in the unaffected skin was analyzed by immunostaining with MxA.RESULTS: IFN-score was increased in 50% of iSLE patients and 46% of SLE patients and correlated positively with the number of autoantibodies, anti-SSA titer, ESR, and IgG and negatively with C4 in iSLE. Levels of MxA correlated strongly with IFN-score (r = 0.78, p &lt; 0.0001). Furthermore, MxA expression was found in 29% of unaffected skin biopsies of iSLE and 31% of SLE patients and also correlated with IFN-score (r = 0.54, p &lt; 0.0001).CONCLUSIONS: IFN-score was increased in half of the iSLE patients, and given the correlation with complement and autoantibody diversity, this suggests a higher risk for disease progression. MxA in the blood and unaffected skin correlated strongly with the IFN-score and is possibly an easily applicable marker for IFN upregulation.</p

Electronic Structure of Disclinated Graphene in an Uniform Magnetic Field

The electronic structure in the vicinity of the 1-heptagonal and 1-pentagonal defects in the carbon graphene plane is investigated. Using a continuum gauge field-theory model the local density of states around the Fermi energy is calculated for both cases. In this model, the disclination is represented by an SO(2) gauge vortex and corresponding metric follows from the elasticity properties of the graphene membrane. To enhance the interval of energies, a self-consistent perturbation scheme is used. The Landau states are investigated and compared with the predicted values.Comment: keywords: graphene, heptagonal defect, elasticity, carbon nanohorns, 13 page