One step towards seamless carbon nanomaterialsA simple synthesis strategy could enable carbon nanoma
One step towards seamless carbon nanomaterialsA simple synthesis strategy could enable carbon nanomaterials to retain their unique properties in three-dimensions, say researchers. The team from Case Western Reserve University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of North Texas, Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, Wenzhou Medical University, and Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems has devised a novel one-step process to create seamless graphene—carbon nanotube (CNT) threedimensional nanostructures [Xue et al., Sci. Adv. (2015), 10.1126/sciadv.1400198].One-dimensional carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional graphene boast impressive thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties in-plane but poor properties in three dimensions because of weak van der Waals interactions between layers. Now Liming Dai and colleagues have created hollow fibers consisting of radially aligned CNTs (RACNTs) attached to cylindrical graphene layers (Fig. 1) with a seamless junction between the two materials.‘‘In our one-step process, the interface is made with carbon—to—carbon bonding so it looks as if it’s one single graphene sheet,’’ explains Dai. ‘‘That makes it an excellent thermal and electrical conductor in all planes.’’Read more. -- source link
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