Posters Sessions IX and X:

1

• Posters Sessions IX and X
• Nanotube-based composites
• Morphology and Application of Modified Nanotubes
• Time when people were trying to make composite
  materials by mixing epoxies with neat nanotubes
  are long gone.
• We now realize importance of achieving good
  interaction between nanotubes and matrix.
• We also understand importance of good dispersion
  of nanotubes, so that each one of them is fully
  surrounded by matrix and fully interacts with it.
• Both are usually achieved via chemical
  modification of the interface.
• Reminder introduction of finely dispersed filler
  into polymers always increases modulus. This is
  NOT an indication of major improvement caused by
  reinforcement with nanotubes!

2

• Posters Session IX Nanotube-based composites
• 26 posters total, most are dealing with
  Structural composites and enhancement in
  electrical conductivity
• With interface optimization
• Modification of CNT-matrix interface leading to
  improved mechanical properties 6 posters,
  7,10,12,13,15,26
• Modification of CNT-matrix interface leading to
  improved electrical properties 2 posters, 11,
  19.
• No interface optimization
• Mechanical properties 3 posters, 3, 4, 14
• Electrical properties 2 posters, 21 and 22
• Exotic matrices CaCO3 (1), ZrO2 (15), CB (LiB)
  (23), Liquid crystal (24, 25),
• Improved dispersion of CNT in carboxymethylcellulo
  se 8
• CdSe - filled MWNT, electrical properties 5
• Hybrid CNT / CF / epoxy composites without
  interface optimization 3
• CNT alignment by electrospinning (4), by using
  aligned CNT forest (22)
• Theory BN NT (16), wrapping (17), interface (18)

3
Poster Session X Morphology and Application of
Modified Nanotubes (very wild mix of subjects
?) 13 posters total. Most interesting 1 (Jack
Fischer) first evidence of solvent ordering on
the nanotube solvent boundary. This has to be
happening on most CNT-matrix interfaces! 2 (C.
Journet) super-hydrophobic CNT forests - not
all CNT modification is to increase interaction 4
Electrospinning of modified CNT / polymer
fibers Electrical conductivity 5, 10.
Polymerized CNT film 8, functionalized gas
sensors 11 6 - amorphous carbon coated CNTs
9 - Self-assembly of CNT free shapes for water
purification, 13 vertical alignment by
self-assembly 7 - B and BN doped SWNT with
zig-zag preference 12 -junctions between CNTs,
experiment and theory
4
SWNT-OLEUM PARTLY ORDERED SOLVENT SHELLS,
TEMPLATED CRYSTALLIZATION AND FIBER SPINNING Wei
Zhou and John E. Fischer , University of
Pennsylvania

dry fiber sulfuric acid
swollen fiber
mean d 11.2Å d dispersion fwhm 2Å
5
Acid scattering enhanced and anisotropic
This suggests that H2SO4 molecules align along
nanotubes, forming a partly ordered wrapped
structure This could be happening in many more
polymer / CNT systems!
Schematic cross-section of a SWNT or a rope
wrapped in roughly cylindrical shells of sulfuric
acid
Bulk H2SO4