title: Applications of three-dimensional carbon nanotube networks.
abstract: In this paper, we show that it is possible to synthesize carbon-based three-dimensional networks by adding sulfur, as growth enhancer, during the synthesis process. The obtained material is self-supporting and consists of curved and interconnected carbon nanotubes and to lesser extent of carbon fibers. Studies on the microstructure indicate that the assembly presents a marked variability in the tube external diameter and in the inner structure. We study the relationship between the observed microscopic properties and some potential applications. In particular, we show that the porous nature of the network is directly responsible for the hydrophobic and the lipophilic behavior. Moreover, we used a cut piece of the produced carbon material as working electrode in a standard electrochemical cell and, thus, demonstrating the capability of the system to respond to incident light in the visible and near-ultraviolet region and to generate a photocurrent.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarselli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castrucci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Nicola
authors.affiliation: Università di Roma Niccolò Cusano (INSTM-UdR), Via Don Carlo Gnocchi 3, 00166 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cacciotti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Impresa, Università di Roma Tor Vergata (INSTM-UdR Roma Tor Vergata), Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venanzi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Crescenzi
keywords: carbon nanotube sponge; electrochemical; hydrophobicity; lipophilicity