Preparation, Characterization and Property Studies of Carbon Nanostructures Derived from Carbon Rich Materials

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Microwave-synthesized freestanding iron-carbon nanotubes on polyester composites of woven Kevlar fibre and silver nanoparticle-decorated graphene

We synthesized Ag nanoparticle-decorated multilayered graphene nanosheets (Ag-graphene) from graphite nanoplatelets and silver nitrate through 90-100 s of microwave exposure, without the use of any mineral acids or harsh reducing agents. Fe nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes (Fe-CNTs) were grown on polypyrrole (PPy) deposited on woven Kevlar fibre (WKF), using ferrocene as a catalyst, under microwave irradiation. Fe-CNTs grown on WKF and Ag-graphene dispersed in polyester resin (PES) were combined to fabricate Ag-graphene/Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES composites by vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding. The combined effect of Fe-CNTs and Ag-graphene in the resulting composites resulted in a remarkable enhancement of tensile properties (a 192.56% increase in strength and 100.64% increase in modulus) as well as impact resistance (a 116.33% increase). The electrical conductivity significantly increased for Ag-graphene/Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES composites. The effectiveness of electromagnetic interference shielding, which relies strongly on the Ag-graphene content in the composites, was 25 times higher in Ag-graphene/Fe-CNT/PPy-coated WKF/PES than in neat WKF/PES composites. The current work offers a novel route for fabricating highly promising, cost effective WKF/PES composites through microwave-assisted synthesis of Fe-CNTs and Ag-graphene.ope

High Strength Conductive Composites with Plasmonic Nanoparticles Aligned on Aramid Nanofibers

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135653/1/adfm201603230.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135653/2/adfm201603230-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135653/3/adfm201603230_am.pd

Liquid exfoliation of solvent-stabilized few-layer black phosphorus for applications beyond electronics

Few-layer black phosphorus (BP) is a new two-dimensional material which is of great interest for applications, mainly in electronics. However, its lack of environmental stability severely limits its synthesis and processing. Here we demonstrate that high-quality, few-layer BP nanosheets, with controllable size and observable photoluminescence, can be produced in large quantities by liquid phase exfoliation under ambient conditions in solvents such as N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP). Nanosheets are surprisingly stable in CHP, probably due to the solvation shell protecting the nanosheets from reacting with water or oxygen. Experiments, supported by simulations, show reactions to occur only at the nanosheet edge, with the rate and extent of the reaction dependent on the water/oxygen content. We demonstrate that liquid-exfoliated BP nanosheets are potentially useful in a range of applications from ultrafast saturable absorbers to gas sensors to fillers for composite reinforcement

Towards scale‐up of graphene production via nonoxidizing liquid exfoliation methods

Graphene, the two‐dimensional form of carbon, has received a great deal of attention across academia and industry due to its extraordinary electrical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and optical properties. In view of the potential impact of graphene on numerous and diverse applications in electronics, novel materials, energy, transport, and healthcare, large‐scale graphene production is a challenge that must be addressed. In the past decade, top–down production has demonstrated high potential for scale‐up. This review features the recent progress made in top–down production methods that have been proposed for the manufacturing of graphene‐based products. Fabrication methods such as liquid‐phase mechanical, chemical and electrochemical exfoliation of graphite are outlined, with a particular focus on nonoxidizing routes for graphene production. Analysis of exfoliation mechanisms, solvent considerations, key advantages and issues, and important production characteristics including production rate and yield, where applicable, are outlined. Future challenges and opportunities in graphene production are also highlighted

Synthesis and property studies of linear and kinked poly(pyreneethynylene)s

10.1016/j.polymer.2010.09.012Polymer51225078-5086POLM

Cationic surfactant mediated exfoliation of graphite into graphene flakes

10.1016/j.carbon.2009.07.049Carbon47143288-3294CRBN

Carbon nanofibers extracted from soot as a sorbent for the determination of aromatic amines from wastewater effluent samples

10.1016/j.chroma.2011.04.003Journal of Chromatography A1218233581-3587JCRA

Flexible conductive graphene/poly(vinyl chloride) composite thin films with high mechanical strength and thermal stability

10.1016/j.carbon.2010.09.004Carbon491198-205CRBN