Super-robust, lightweight, conducting carbon nanotube blocks cross-linked by de-fluorination.
We produced large binder-free multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) blocks from fluorinated MWNTs using thermal heating and a compressing method in vacuo. This technique resulted in the formation of covalent MWNT networks generated by the introduction of sp(3)-hybridized carbon atoms that cross-link between nanotubes upon de-fluorination. The resulting carbon nanotube blocks are lighter than graphite, can be machined and polished, and possess average bending strengths of 102.2 MPa, a bending modulus of 15.4 GPa, and an electrical conductivity of 2.1 x 10(2) S/cm. Although each nanotube exhibits a random structure in these blocks, the mechanical properties are 3 times higher than those obtained for commercial graphite. On the basis of theoretical molecular dynamics simulations, a model is presented for the nanotube interconnecting mechanism upon de-fluorination.
Sato
Yoshinori
Y
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-20, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan. hige@bucky1.kankyo.tohoku.ac.jp
Ootsubo
Makoto
M
Yamamoto
Go
G
Van Lier
Gregory
G
Terrones
Mauricio
M
Hashiguchi
Shinji
S
Kimura
Hisamichi
H
Okubo
Akira
A
Motomiya
Kenichi
K
Jeyadevan
Balachandran
B
Hashida
Toshiyuki
T
Tohji
Kazuyuki
K
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D005461:Fluorine / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D005461:Fluorine