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Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Materials Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 21785

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dawid Janas

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 4, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: materials science; nanotechnology; chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Researchers’ interest in carbon nanostructures has been ignited worldwide since their discovery. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, and other forms of carbon have shown remarkable thermal, electrical, and optical properties. This has given us hope that, thanks to them, we will be able to replace many traditionally used materials at present, the performance of which is often close to their theoretical limits.

It is my pleasure to invite you to this Special Issue of Materials, which aims to discuss recent findings in the area of their electrical, thermal, and optical properties with a special focus on how microstructure and composition affects them. In particular, it would be worthwhile to elaborate on how the modification of these nanocarbon architectures influences the way these materials interact with light and/or transfer electrical/thermal energy. These factors should be considered for both individual nanocarbon macromolecules such as nanotubes/flakes and their networks in the form of fibers/thin films.

Contributions such as communications, regular articles, or reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Dawid Janas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Nanocarbon materials (fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene)
Structure control during synthesis or sorting
Electrical properties
Doping
Thermal properties
Optical properties
Quantum dots
Photoluminescence
Functional materials
Macroscopic ensembles (fibers, thin films, and coatings).

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research

2 pages, 180 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue of Materials Focused on “Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials”

by Dawid Janas

Materials 2022, 15(5), 1649; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15051649 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1317

Abstract

Due to their extraordinary properties, nanocarbon materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene have been at the forefront of research for the past few decades [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

15 pages, 3448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermoelectric Properties of Thin Films from Sorted Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

by Blazej Podlesny, Bogumila Kumanek, Angana Borah, Ryohei Yamaguchi, Tomohiro Shiraki, Tsuyohiko Fujigaya and Dawid Janas

Materials 2020, 13(17), 3808; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13173808 - 28 Aug 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2978

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) remain one of the most promising materials of our times. One of the goals is to implement semiconducting and metallic SWCNTs in photonics and microelectronics, respectively. In this work, we demonstrated how such materials could be obtained from the parent material by using the aqueous two-phase extraction method (ATPE) at a large scale. We also developed a dedicated process on how to harvest the SWCNTs from the polymer matrices used to form the biphasic system. The technique is beneficial as it isolates SWCNTs with high purity while simultaneously maintaining their surface intact. To validate the utility of the metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs obtained this way, we transformed them into thin free-standing films and characterized their thermoelectric properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

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11 pages, 1877 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Effect of the Gaseous Environment on the Electrical Conductivity of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Films over a Wide Temperature Range

by Dawid Janas and Krzysztof K. Koziol

Materials 2020, 13(3), 510; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13030510 - 21 Jan 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2847

Abstract

The surrounding gas atmosphere can have a significant influence on the electrical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) ensembles. In this study, we subjected CNT films to various gaseous environments or vacuum to observe how such factors alter the electrical resistance of networks at high temperatures. We showed that the removal of adsorbed water and other contaminants from the surface under reduced pressure significantly affects the electrical conductivity of the material. We also demonstrated that exposing the CNT films to the hydrogen atmosphere (as compared to a selection of gases of inert and oxidizing character) at elevated temperatures results in a notable reduction of electrical resistance. We believe that the observed sensitivity of the electrical properties of the CNT films to hydrogen or vacuum at elevated temperatures could be of practical importance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

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Graphical abstract

16 pages, 6628 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Spun Carbon Nanotube Fibres and Films as an Alternative to Printed Electronic Components

by Patrycja Taborowska, Tomasz Giżewski, Jeff Patmore, Daniel Janczak, Małgorzata Jakubowska and Agnieszka Lekawa-Raus

Materials 2020, 13(2), 431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13020431 - 16 Jan 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4212

Abstract

Current studies of carbon nanotubes have enabled both new electronic applications and improvements to the performance of existing ones. Manufacturing of macroscopic electronic components with this material generally involves the use of printed electronic methods, which must use carbon nanotube (CNT) powders. However, in recent years, it has been shown that the use of ready-made self-standing macroscopic CNT assemblies could have considerable potential in the future development of electronic components. Two examples of these are spun carbon nanotube fibers and CNT films. The following paper considers whether these spun materials may replace printed electronic CNT elements in all applications. To enable the investigation of this question some practical experiments were undertaken. They included the formation of smart textile elements, flexible and transparent components, and structural electronic devices. By taking this approach it has been possible to show that CNT fibres and films are highly versatile materials that may improve the electrical and mechanical performance of many currently produced printed electronic elements. Additionally, the use of these spun materials may enable many new applications and functionalities particularly in the area of e-textiles. However, as with every new technology, it has its limitations, and these are also considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

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13 pages, 5997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Synthesis Parameters of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on their Thermoelectric Properties

by Bogumiła Kumanek, Grzegorz Stando, Paweł S. Wróbel and Dawid Janas

Materials 2019, 12(21), 3567; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12213567 - 30 Oct 2019

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3057

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes have been intensively researched for many years because of a wide array of promising properties that they have. In this paper, we present the impact of synthesis parameters on thermoelectric properties of nanocarbon material. We conducted a number of syntheses of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at different temperatures (800 and 900 °C) using various amounts of catalyst (2%, 5.5%, and 9.6%) to facilitate the process. We also tested the influence of injection rate of precursor and the necessity of material purification on thermoelectric properties of MWCNTs. The electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient were measurement for all samples. Based on these parameters, the values of Power Factor and Figure of Merit were calculated. The results show that the most important parameter in the context of thermoelectric properties is purity of employed MWCNTs. To obtain appropriate material for this purpose optimum synthesis temperature and appropriate content of the catalyst must be selected. The study also reveals that post-synthetic purification of nanocarbon is essential to produce an attractive material for thermoelectrics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

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10 pages, 2509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study between Knocked-Down Aligned Carbon Nanotubes and Buckypaper-Based Strain Sensors

by Ana Santos, Luís Amorim, João Pedro Nunes, Luís Alexandre Rocha, Alexandre Ferreira Silva and Júlio César Viana

Materials 2019, 12(12), 2013; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12122013 - 23 Jun 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3398

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the most promising materials in sensing applications due to their electrical and mechanical properties. This paper presents a comparative study between CNT Buckypaper (BP) and aligned CNT-based strain sensors. The Buckypapers were produced by vacuum filtration of commercial CNTs dispersed in two different solvents, N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol, forming freestanding sheets, which were cut in 10 × 10 mm squares and transferred to polyimide (PI) films. The morphology of the BP was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The initial electrical resistivity of the samples was measured, and then relative electrical resistance versus strain measurements were obtained. The results were compared with the knocked-down vertically aligned CNT/PI based sensors previously reported. Although both types of sensors were sensitive to strain, the aligned CNT/PI samples had better mechanical performance and the advantage of inferring strain direction due to their electrical resistivity anisotropic behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

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Graphical abstract

11 pages, 2294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Performance of Graphene in Heat Dissipation when Combined with an Orientated Magnetic Carbon Fiber Skeleton under Low-Temperature Thermal Annealing

by Jing Li, Rubai Lei, Jinfeng Lai, Xuyang Chen and Yang Li

Materials 2019, 12(6), 954; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12060954 - 22 Mar 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2983

Abstract

The high thermal conductivity and stability, outstanding mechanical properties, and low weight make graphene suitable for many applications in the realm of thermal management, especially in high integration systems. Herein, we report a high-performance, low-temperature reduced graphene oxide/magnetic carbon fiber composite film. Magnetic carbon fibers were prepared using a co-precipitation method, and the graphene oxide solution was prepared using an improved Hummers’ method. The magnetic carbon fibers were orientated by magnetite and immersed in the graphene oxide solution during filtration, followed by annealing at 800 °C. The composite film exhibited improved thermal conductivity (over 600 W/m·K) and mechanical properties (tensile strength of 37.1 MPa and bending cycle of up to 8000). The experimental results illustrate that the graphene in the composite membrane provides heat transfer channels to promote in-plane thermal conductivity, while the magnetic carbon fiber acts as a scaffold to reinforce the mechanical properties and improve the quality of the graphene. Due to the synergistic effect of the graphene and magnetic carbon, this composite has wide potential applications in heat dissipation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrical, Thermal and Optical Properties of Nanocarbon Materials)

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