Many potential applications have been proposed for carbon nanotubes, including conductive and high-strength composites; energy storage and energy conversion devices; sensors; field emission displays and radiation sources; hydrogen storage media; and nanometer-sized semiconductor devices, probes, and interconnects. Some of these applications are now realized in products. Others are demonstrated in early to advanced devices, and one, hydrogen storage, is clouded by controversy. Nanotube cost, polydispersity in nanotube type, and limitations in processing and assembly methods are important barriers for some applications of single-walled nanotubes.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/297/5582/787.full.pdf

Carbon Nanotubes--the Route Toward Applications

https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/cas_sites/physics/pdf/Ren/p85.pdf

Advances in the science and technology of carbon nanotubes and their composites: a review

Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece, Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vass. Constantinou Avenue, 116 35 Athens, Greece, Institut de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, UPR9021 CNRS, Immunologie et Chimie Therapeutiques, 67084 Strasbourg, France, and Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy

Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes

Small but strong: A review of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube–polymer composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hold the promise of delivering exceptional mechanical properties and multi-functional characteristics. Ever-increasing interest in applying CNTs in many different fields has led to continued efforts to develop dispersion and functionalization techniques. To employ CNTs as effective reinforcement in polymer nanocomposites, proper dispersion and appropriate interfacial adhesion between the CNTs and polymer matrix have to be guaranteed. This paper reviews the current understanding of CNTs and CNT/polymer nanocomposites with two particular topics: (i) the principles and techniques for CNT dispersion and functionalization and (ii) the effects of CNT dispersion and functionalization on the properties of CNT/polymer nanocomposites. The fabrication techniques and potential applications of CNT/polymer nanocomposites are also highlighted.

Dispersion and functionalization of carbon nanotubes for polymer-based nanocomposites: a review

Multiwall carbon nanotubes have been dispersed homogeneously throughout polystyrene matrices by a simple solution-evaporation method without destroying the integrity of the nanotubes. Tensile tests on composite films show that 1 wt % nanotube additions result in 36%–42% and ∼25% increases in elastic modulus and break stress, respectively, indicating significant load transfer across the nanotube-matrix interface. In situ transmission electron microscopy studies provided information regarding composite deformation mechanisms and interfacial bonding between the multiwall nanotubes and polymer matrix.

Load transfer and deformation mechanisms in carbon nanotube-polystyrene composites

Carbon nanotubes (NTs) have novel electronic properties and exceptionally high Young's moduli on the order of TPa. so NTs have potential applications in advanced composite materials such as conductive polymers, electromagnetic-radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) shielding material and opto-electronic materials. The utility of the nanotubes in composite applications depends strongly on the ability to disperse the NTs homogeneously throughout the matrix without destroying the integrity of the NTs. Furthermore, interfacial bonding between the NT and matrix is necessary to achieve load transfer across the interface, which is desirable for improving the mechanical properties of polymer composites. In this work, aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) produced by continuous chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (see Fig.l), were homogeneously dispersed in polystyrene (PS) matrices by a simple solution-evaporation method. Using this procedure, we made uniform MWNT-PS composite films ∼0.4mm thick for ex-situ mechanical tensile test and very thin films, ∼100nm, for in-situ TEM tests, as shown in Fig.2.

T. Rantell

Papers

Load transfer and deformation mechanisms in carbon nanotube-polystyrene composites

In-Situ Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-Polystyrene Composite Deformation