Matt Montgomery Kris Behler, Mentor Dr. Yuri Gogotsi, Advisor Polymers!!! Nanotubes!!! Matt Montgomery Kris Behler, Mentor Dr. Yuri Gogotsi, Advisor
Objective Method Electrically conductive micro-fibers Electrospin polymer + nanotube
Electrospinning http://www.che.vt.edu/Wilkes/electrospinning/Slide1.JPG
Concentrations Polymer (≤ 30%) Solvent (≥ 70%) Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (≈ 0.1% to 0.02%)
(PVDF= Polyvinylidene-fluoride) Solvent: (DMA = Dimethyl-aniline) PVDF pellets Polymer: (PVDF= Polyvinylidene-fluoride) Solvent: (DMA = Dimethyl-aniline) (DMF = Dimethyl-formamide) Our solutions
Computer model of MWCNT Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Catalysts Average diameter between 10 and 20 nanometers TEM image Computer model of MWCNT www.thomas-swan.co.uk/ pages/nano_images.html
Problems Solubility of PVDF Viscosity / Solidification Nanotube dispersal
Our electrospinning apparatus Fiber Collection plate (copper plate with aluminum foil wrapped over it) Heat lamps to keep solution from solidifying
Our electrospun fibers Do they contain carbon nanotubes? Are they more conductive? More of our fibers Our electrospun fibers
Raman Spectroscopy Standard carbon nanotube signature
Carbon nanotubes successfully embedded in PVDF! Raman Spectra shows characteristic peaks 1330 cm-1 D-band 1430 cm-1 PVDF peak 1584 cm-1 G-Band λ = 633 nm, 500x mag, 500sec Slide courtesy of Kris Behler
Research continues.