Abstract
Since
their discovery, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered one of the most
attractive nanomaterials due to their unique and superior physical properties. Their
tubular structure offers
the possibility of filling its hollow core with a variety of inorganic and
organic materials, creating a novel nanohybrid, known as a filled CNTs, that possess the qualities of both the CNTs and
that of the filling material. Currently available synthesis methods of filled
CNTs are ex-situ multistep processes, resulting in filled CNTs open at one or both
ends. These methods also cannot consistently encapsulate long metal sulfide
nanowires inside CNTs. Finally, these methods can only generate a mixture of metallic
CNTs and semiconducting CNTs. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a
reliable synthesis method that can yield 100% metallic or 100% semiconducting
filled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for different applications.FIU scientists have developed the first methods of
synthesizing metal sulfide filled CNTs on carbon-based substrates. The methods
are one-step filling processes and generate completely and continuously filled CNTs
with metal sulfide fillers up to several micrometers in length. Further, the methods
can yield 100% metallic CNTs, solving the problem of separating them from the semiconducting
CNTs. Finally, the filled CNTs can be synthesized on various carbon-based
materials without a pre-treatment step.
Benefit
Can be scaled upYield high purity filled CNTs Can encapsulate metal-sulfide nanowires of up to 30 um or more in lengthThe filling rate and ratio, as well as the length and average diameter can be controlledThe CNTs are directly grown on the carbon-based substrate, no glue or binder are neededThe CNTs have excellent lithium storage capability
Market Application
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBS)Nano breakers for electronic devices
Publications
Ni3S2 nanowires filled carbon nanotubes of ultra-high quality: Synthesis methods, structure, and electrical properties
Brochure
