Poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer with di-hydroxyl terminated groups (HO-PEO-PS-PEO-OH) was conjugated with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) via esterification reaction using N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 4-Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and Dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent at 80 ○C. The poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene oxide) with NTA end groups (NTA-PEO-PS-PEO-NTA) was characterized and structure confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopies. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to investigate the thermal stability of the starting triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene oxide) with di-hydroxyl terminated groups (HO-PEO-PS-PEO-OH) and the conjugated poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene oxide) functional polymer (NTA-PEO-PS-PEO-NTA). Surface morphologies of the (HO-PEO-PS-PEO-OH) and (NTA-PEO-PS-PEO-NTA) were studied by atomic force microscopy. In addition, the size distributions were determined using dynamic light scattering. The thermal behavior of the (HO-PEO-PS-PEO-OH) and (NTA-PEO-PS-PEO-NTA) were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC thermograms indicate the formation of a two phase polymer matrix. The poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene oxide) with NTA functionalized end groups (NTA-PEO-PS-PEO-NTA) was bound or chelated with Ni(II) metal ion. The binding studies were carried out by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The electronic behaviors of PEO-b-PS-b-PEO/ PS/ NTA-PEO-b-PS-b-PEO-NTA with ratio (1/5/1) and PEO-b-PS-b-PEO/ PS/ NTA-PEO-b-PS-b-PEO-NTA-Ni containing 1% of oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were investigated by I–V plots from Kelvin sensing. The I–V plots before sensitizing with protein varied from the I–V plots after binding with protein indicating that the composites may be used as active components in biosensors.

No description available.

The search for new materials for hydrogen storage is important for the development of future hydrogen energy applications. In this Thesis, it is shown that new materials with interesting properties can be synthesized by the reaction of hydrogen with various nanocarbon precursors. The thesis consists of two parts. The first part is devoted to studies of hydrogen storage in some metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and nanostructured carbon materials, while the second part describes synthesis of new materials by the reaction of hydrogen gas with various carbon materials (i.e. fullerene C60, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and fullerene C60 encapsulated inside SWCNTs (C60@SWCNTs)). Hydrogen adsorption was measured for a set of Zn- and Co-based MOFs at near ambient temperatures. MOFs synthesized using different metal clusters and organic connecting ligands allowed to study effects of different surface area, pore volume, and pore shapes on hydrogen storage parameters. Hydrogen adsorption values in the studied MOFs correlated well with surface area and pore volume but did not exceed 0,75wt.%. Therefore, new methods to improve the hydrogen storage capacity in MOFs were investigated. The addition of metal catalysts was previously reported to improve significantly hydrogen storage in MOFs. In this thesis the effect of Pt catalyst addition on hydrogen adsorption in MOF-5 was not confirmed. Contrary to previous reports, hydrogen adsorption in MOF-5 mixed/modified with Pt catalysts had fast kinetics, correlated well with surface area, and was on the same level as for unmodified MOF-5. New nanostructured carbon materials were synthesized by the reaction between fullerene C60 and coronene/anthracene. Despite negligible surface area these materials adsorbed up to 0,45wt.% of hydrogen at ambient temperatures. The reaction of fullerene C60 with hydrogen gas was studied at elevated temperatures and hydrogen pressures. In situ gravimetric monitoring of the reaction was performed in a broad temperature interval with/without addition of metal catalysts (i.e. Pt and Ni). The reaction resulted in synthesis of hydrogenated fullerenes C60Hx (with x≤56) followed by fullerene cage fragmentation and collapse upon prolonged duration of hydrogen treatment. Possible mechanisms of C60 hydrogenation and fragmentation were discussed. It is demonstrated that reaction of SWCNTs with hydrogen gas at elevated temperatures and hydrogen pressures can be used for nanotube opening, purification from amorphous carbon, side-wall hydrogenation, and partial unzipping of SWCNTs. Some graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) were synthesized as the result of SWCNTs unzipping. A surprising ability of hydrogen to penetrate inside SWNTs and to react with encapsulated fullerene C60 was demonstrated. / Sökandet efter nya material för vätelagring är viktigt för utveckling av framtida väteenergitillämpningar. I denna avhandling visas att nya material med intressanta egenskaper kan syntetiseras genom reaktion av väte med olika nanokolprekursorer. Avhandlingen består av två delar. Den första delen ägnas åt studier av vätelagring i vissa metall-organiska fackverk (så kallade MOFs) och nanostrukturerade kolmaterial medan den andra delen beskriver syntes av nya material genom reaktion av vätgas med olika kolmaterial (dvs. fulleren C60, enkelväggiga kolnanorör (SWCNTs) och fulleren C60 kapslat i SWCNTs (C60 @ SWCNTs)). Väteadsorptionen mättes för ett antal Zn- och Co-baserade MOFs vid rumstemperatur. MOFs syntetiserades med hjälp av olika metallkluster och organiska ligander för att studera effekterna av olika yta, porvolym och porformer på vätelagringsparametrarna. Väteadsorptionsvärden i de studerade MOFs korrelerade väl med yta och porvolym, men översteg inte 0,75wt.%. Därför undersöktes nya metoder för att förbättra kapaciteten för vätelagring i MOFs. Tillsättning av metallkatalysatorer har tidigare rapporterats avsevärt förbättra vätelagring i MOFs. I denna avhandling kunde effekten av en tillsats av Pt-katalysator på väteadsorption i MOF-5 inte bekräftas. I motsats till tidigare rapporter hade väteadsorption i MOF-5 blandad/modifierad med Pt-katalysatorer snabb kinetik och korrelerade väl med arean, men var på samma nivå som för omodifierad MOF-5. Nya nanostrukturerade kolmaterial syntetiserades genom reaktion mellan fulleren C60 och coronene/antracene. Trots försumbar yta adsorberade dessa material upp till 0,45wt.% väte vid rumstemperatur. Reaktionen av fulleren C60 med vätgas studerades vid förhöjda temperaturer och vätetryck. In situ gravimetrisk övervakning av reaktionen utfördes i ett brett temperaturintervall med/utan tillsats av metallkatalysatorer (dvs. Pt och Ni). Reaktionen resulterade i syntes av hydrogenerade fullerener C60Hx (med x≤56) följt av fragmentering och kollaps av fullerenstrukturen vid förlängd varaktighet av vätebehandlingen. Möjliga mekanismer för hydrering och fragmentering av C60 diskuteras. Det har visats att reaktionen mellan SWCNTs och vätgas vid förhöjda temperaturer och vätetryck kan användas för öppning av nanorör, borttagning av amorft kol, funktionalisering av sidoväggar och partiell "blixtlåsöppning" av SWCNTs. Reaktionen kan också syntetisera grafen-nanoband (GNRs) som en följd av att SWCNTs öppnas på längden. En överraskande stor förmåga för väte att tränga in i SWNT och där reagera med inkapslade fullerenmolekyler C60 demonstrerades.

Utilizing density functional theory (DFT) the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) was used to calculate the Raman spectra for five single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with chiralities (4,4), (6,6), (8,0), (12,0) and (7,1). The radial breathing mode (RBM), when compared with experimental frequencies, shows good correlation. When compared to RBM:s calculated with tight binding the frequencies calculated with DFT displayed higher accuracy. The precision of G-band frequencies were inconclusive due to lack of experimental data. The frequencies did not agree well with the results from tight-binding theory. The correctness of the Raman activity estimations using results from DFT calculations was found to be questionable. An unknown mode, which was found to be highly Raman active in the calculated spectra of (4,4), (6,6), and possibly (8,0), and (12,0), is also discussed. It was concluded that further calculations on larger tubes, especially armchair tubes are relevant for future studies. Further verification of the determination of Raman activity is also needed. / F7042T - Project in Engineering Physics

Ce travail est consacré à l'étude de la fonctionnalisation des nanotubes de carbone (NTC)<br />et à l'application des dérivés obtenues en vue de l'élaboration de nanomatériaux qui font à<br />l'heure actuelle l'objet d'une attention scientifique très soutenue.<br />Une étude de la fonctionnalisation par l'oxygène et le fluor de différents lots de NTC,<br />obtenus par différentes méthodes de synthèse, a été réalisée. Celle-ci nous a permis de<br />déboucher sur l'obtention de tubes bifonctionnalisés par des hétéroéléments.<br />Le stockage de fluor dans des NTC monoparois en forme de fagot a pu être réalisé à partir<br />d'une atmosphère gazeuse de fluor à basse température. La fluoration obtenue s'est montrée<br />réversible.<br />WF6 a été intercalé dans l'espace interplanaire de NTC multiparois catalytiques. Le<br />produit obtenu a été utilisé en tant que précurseur pour l'obtention de nanoparticules<br />d'oxyfluorures de tungstène à l'issue d'un échange fluor-oxygène via la molécule<br />d'hexaméthyldisiloxane.<br />La tentative d'élaboration de structures halogénées de type nanofilamentaire à partir des<br />NTC fonctionnalisés a été abordée en dernier lieu.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemical Engineering / Placidus B. Amama / The continued depletion of fossil fuels and concomitant increase in greenhouse gases have encouraged worldwide research on alternative processes to produce clean fuel. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a heterogeneous catalytic reaction that converts syngas (CO and H₂) to liquid hydrocarbons. FTS is a well-established route for producing clean liquid fuels. However, the broad product distribution and limited catalytic activity are restricting the development of FTS. The strong interactions between the active metal catalyst (Fe or Co) and support (Al₂O₃, SiO₂ and TiO₂) during post-synthesis treatments of the catalyst (such as calcination at ~500°C and reduction ~550°C) lead to formation of inactive and unreducible inert material like Fe₂SiO₄, CoAl₂O₄, Co₂SiO₄. The activity of FTS catalyst is negatively impacted by the presence of these inactive compounds. In our study, we demonstrate the use of a modified photo-Fenton process for the preparation of carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported Co and Fe catalysts that are characterized by small and well-dispersed catalyst particles on CNTs that require no further treatments. The process is facile, highly scalable, and involves the use of green catalyst precursors and an oxidant. The reaction kinetic results show high CO conversion (85%), selectivity for liquid hydrocarbons and stability. Further, a gaseous product mixture from FTS (C1-C4) was utilized as an efficient feedstock for the growth of high-quality, well-aligned single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) carpets of millimeter-scale heights on Fe and (sub) millimeter-scale heights on Co catalysts via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Although SWCNT carpets were grown over a wide temperature range (between 650 and 850°C), growth conducted at optimal temperatures for Co (850°C) and Fe (750°C) yielded predominantly SWCNTs that are straight, clean, and with sidewalls that are largely free of amorphous carbon. Also, low-temperature CVD growth of CNT carpets from Fe and Fe–Cu catalysts using a gaseous product mixture from FTS as a superior carbon feedstock is demonstrated. The efficiency of the growth process is evidenced by the highly dense, vertically aligned CNT structures from both Fe and Fe–Cu catalysts even at temperatures as low as 400°C–a record low growth temperature for CNT carpets obtained via conventional thermal CVD. The use of FTS-GP facilitates low-temperature growth of CNT carpets on traditional (alumina film) and nontraditional substrates (aluminum foil) and has the potential of enhancing CNT quality, catalyst lifetime, and scalability. We demonstrate growth of SWCNT carpets with diameter distributions that are smaller than SWCNTs in conventional carpets using a CVD process that utilizes the product gaseous mixture from Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS-GP). The high-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) and Raman spectroscopic results reveal that the use of a high melting point metal as a catalyst promoter in combination with either Co (1.5 nm ± 0.7) at 850ºC or Fe (1.9 nm ± 0.8) at 750ºC yields smaller-diameter SWCNT arrays with narrow diameter distributions. Scalable synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and onion like carbon (OLC) in a batch reactor using supercritical fluids as a reaction media is demonstrated. The process utilizes toluene, ethanol, or butanol as a carbon precursor in combination with ferrocene that serves as a catalyst precursor and a secondary carbon source. The use of supercritical fluids for growth does not only provide a route for selective growth of a variety of carbon nanomaterials, but also provides a unique one-step approach that is free of aggressive acid treatment for synthesis of CNT-supported metallic nanoparticle composites for catalysis and energy storage applications.

One of the most significant issues in nanocomposite performance is improving the dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in thermosetting or thermoplastic polymers in order to gain good mechanical properties. Several studies have investigated the fabrication of nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes and analysed properties, but there is still insufficient data on their structure-property relationships. This thesis has investigated the central importance of stress transfer Raman studies in epoxy composites reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to elucidate the reinforcing ability of the CNTs in an epoxy matrix. This project was undertaken to synthesise and characterize MWCNTs and determine the effect of different weight fractions of untreated MWCNTs on the stress transfer efficiency at the MWCNTS / epoxy interface and on the stiffness of the thermomechanical properties of the MWCNTS / epoxy composites. It was undertaken to assess the stress transfer efficiency at the CNT / epoxy interface and at the inter-walls of the CNTs with tensile deformation and with cyclic loading.Optimized conditions of the injection chemical vapour deposition method (CVD), such as long injection times were applied to produce MWCNTs with a high yield, high aspect ratio and well-defined G' Raman peak. The morphology and size of CNTs were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) while their thermal stability was examined by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Both Raman spectroscopy and mechanical testing (static and dynamic) were utilized in this study. The Raman spectroscopy research consisted of following the G'-band frequency and linewidth as well as the intensity of radial breathing modes (RBMs) during tensile deformation. The stress-induced Raman shifts in the nanocomposites have been shown to be controlled by the number of carbon nanolayers. A theory has been developed to determine and simulate the stress transfer efficiency parameter, (k_i) for MWCNTs. Tensile tests and dynamic mechanical testing were used to assess the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites.The most obvious finding to be drawn from the present study is that the reinforcement of the epoxy resin with different loadings of MWCNTs is useful, but the best reinforcement was at low loadings of MWCNTs. One of the more significant findings to emerge from this study is that (k_i) between the inner walls of the DWCNTs and MWCNTs are quite similar (~0.7), which suggest that (k_i) may be similar for all CVD MWCNTs and DWCNTs. The second major finding was that there were RBM intensity variations for the SWCNTs and DWCNTs in the hot-cured epoxy composites and that for the DWCNTs both the inner and outer nanotube walls are stressed during deformation

Excellent electronic properties of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWCNTs) motivated the investigation for using them in different application areas such as microelectronics, sensorics, MEMS and MOEMS. However, challenges arise from the lack of selectivity with respect to electronic type and chirality as well as ensuring high quality, high purity and well-aligned SWCNTs during fabrication process. Catalytic chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) has shown great potential in direct synthesis of high quality SWCNTs with chiral or type selectivity. This thesis addresses three important aspects for growth of sc-SWCNT covering method development for fast screening for complex catalyst systems, process development for type-selective growth of SWCNTs and transfer of processes to a specific CVD reactor capable to scale the processes up to 8-inches wafer embedded in the microtechnologic process line. Multi-wavelengths Raman spectroscopy is applied to analyze type and chiral compositions of SWCNTs. In addition, different microscopic techniques of SEM, TEM and AFM are utilized to analyze surface morphology of catalyst layers and size of the nanoparticles as well as structure-related properties of SWCNTs. Initially, systematic studies on monometallic Co and bimetallic Co-Mo systems with different bilayer thickness configurations and their influences on the properties of grown SWCNTs are conducted on chip level. It is shown by adjusting the catalyst deposition conditions of bilayer catalyst as well as optimization of gas environments in CCVD process, structure-related properties of SWCNTs are dramatically enhanced. Furthermore, by utilizing shutter-assisted sputter deposition of gradient layer catalyst, a fast and efficient method for screening different bilayer configurations of Co-Mo, Co-Ru and Ni-Ru has been developed. By utilizing gradient layer deposition with finely resolved catalyst thicknesses, random network SWCNT is grown on bimetallic Co-Mo system under certain process condition with 45% (at 633 nm) and 75% (at 785 nm) semiconducting enrichment of long and high quality SWCNT. In contrast, bimetallic Co-Ru system under certain process condition is developed to grow in-plane SWCNT with 85% (at 633 nm) and 75% (at 785 nm) semiconducting enrichment of short and low quality SWCNT. In addition, different configurations of the bimetallic Co-Ru system are prepared from salt precursors by spin-coating technique. For a mixture of cobalt (II) chloride and ruthenium (III) nitrosylacetate, random network SWCNT with 70% (at 633 nm) and 95% (at 785 nm) semiconducting enrichment of long SWCNTs with high quality is obtained on wafer level. Random network SWCNT with high degree of semiconducting enrichment is used as channel material for thin-film transistors fabrication that results in CNTFET with on/off ratio in the order of 10*3:Bibliographic description 3 Vorwort 9 List of abbreviations and symbols 11 1 Introduction 15 2 Fundamentals of carbon nanotubes 21 2.1 Chemical bonds in carbon structures 21 2.2 Different allotropes of carbon 22 2.3 History of carbon nanotubes research 23 2.4 Structure of carbon nanotubes 24 2.5 Electronic properties of carbon nanotubes 26 2.6 Synthesis of carbon nanotubes 27 2.7 Growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes by CCVD 29 2.8 Catalyst for CCVD synthesis of SWCNTs 31 2.8.1 Catalyst nanoparticle formation from thin film 32 2.8.2 Mechanism of solid state dewetting 33 2.9 CCVD synthesis of SWCNT 35 2.10 Selective synthesis of SWCNT 37 3 Experimental 39 3.1 Preparation of different catalyst/support systems 39 3.1.1 Homogenous layer of catalyst prepared by PVD 39 3.1.2 Gradient layer deposition of catalyst by IBSD 41 3.1.3 Homogenous layer of catalyst prepared by spin coating 45 3.2 CVD reactors for synthesis of SWCNT 46 3.2.1 R&D vertical flow CVD reactor with showerhead 46 3.2.2 Industrial vertical flow CVD reactor with showerhead 47 3.2.3 Horizontal flow tube CVD reactor 49 3.3 Methods for characterization 50 3.3.1 Atomic force microscopy 50 3.3.2 Raman spectroscopy 50 3.3.3 Spectroscopic ellipsometry 56 3.3.4 X-ray reflection 56 3.3.5 Scanning electron microscopy 56 3.3.6 Transmission electron microscopy 56 4 Growth of SWCNT using PVD catalyst layer in vertical CVD reactor A 57 4.1 Monometallic Co catalyst supported on SiO2 57 4.1.1 Surface and morphological analysis of SiO2/Co 57 4.1.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on SiO2/Co 59 4.1.3 Chirality and diameter analysis of SWCNTs on SiO2/Co 61 4.2 Monometallic Co catalyst supported on Al2O3 62 4.2.1 Surface and morphological analysis of Al2O3/Co 62 4.2.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on Al2O3/Co 63 4.2.3 Chirality and diameter analysis of SWCNTs on Al2O3/Co 67 4.3 Bimetallic Co-Mo catalyst supported on Al2O3 68 4.3.1 Surface and Morphological analysis of Al2O3/Co-Mo 68 4.3.2 Effect of IBSD deposition parameters on NP formation 71 4.3.3 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on Al2O3/Co-Mo 72 4.3.4 Chirality and diameter analysis of SWCNTs on Al2O3/Co-Mo 76 4.4 Comparison of SWCNT from different catalyst configurations 77 5 Growth of SWCNT using gradient layer of catalyst 79 5.1 Analysis of grown SWCNT on Co-Mo using step gradient A 79 5.2 Analysis of grown SWCNT on Co-Mo using step gradient B 80 5.2.1 Growth of SWCNT by utilizing shutter at position I 80 5.2.2 Growth of SWCNT by utilizing shutter at position II 82 5.2.3 Effect of vacuum breaking on CCVD growth of SWCNT 83 6 Growth of SWCNT using gradient layer catalyst in vertical CVD reactor B 87 6.1 SWCNT growth on gradient layer of monometallic catalyst 87 6.1.1 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Co 87 6.1.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Ni 89 6.1.3 Comparison of SWCNT properties for monometallic of Ni and Co 90 6.2 SWCNT growth on gradient layer of bimetallic catalyst 92 6.2.1 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Co-Mo 92 6.2.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Co-Ru 95 6.2.3 Comparison of SWCNTs on Co-Mo and Co-Ru catalyst systems 98 6.2.4 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNTs on gradient layer of Ni-Ru 100 7 Growth of SWCNT using spin-coated catalyst precursor in horizontal CVD reactor 103 7.1 Effect of CCVD growth temperature on SWCNT properties 103 7.2 Effect of catalyst calcination temperature on SWCNT properties 103 7.3 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on Co and Co-Ru 105 7.3.1 Monolayer configuration of different Co precursors 105 7.3.2 Bilayer configuration of Co and Ru precursors 106 7.3.3 Trilayer configuration of Co and Ru precursors 107 7.3.4 Monolayer configuration of Mixture Co and Ru precursors 109 7.3.5 Comparison of SWCNTs on different catalyst configurations 110 8 Growth of SWCNT using spin-coated catalyst precursor in vertical CVD reactor B 113 8.1 Growth of SWCNT on Mixture of Co and Ru precursors 113 8.2 Effect of CVD reactor geometry on SWCNT properties 115 8.3 Effect of catalyst preparation technique on SWCNT properties 116 8.4 Wafer-level growth of SWCNT on bimetallic Co-Ru 117 9 SWCNT-based device fabrication 119 9.1 Different approaches for SWCNT-based device fabrication 119 9.2 Growth-based technique for SWCNT-based device fabrication 121 9.2.1 FET fabrication on in-plane random network SWCNT 121 9.2.2 FET fabrication on out-of-plane random network SWCNT 123 10 Summary and outlook 127 Appendix 131 Bibliography 171 List of tables 183 List of figures 185 Versicherung 197 Theses 199 Curriculum vitae 201 List of publications 203 / Die hervorragenden elektronischen Eigenschaften von halbleitenden, einwandigen Kohlenstoff-Nanoröhren (sc-SWCNTs haben die Untersuchung dazu veranlasst, sie in verschiedenen Anwendungsbereichen wie der Mikroelektronik, Sensorik, MEMS und MOEMS einzusetzen. Herausforderungen ergeben sich jedoch aus dem Mangel an Selektivität bezüglich elektronischer Bauart und Chiralität sowie der Sicherstellung hoher Qualität, hoher Reinheit und gut aufeinander abgestimmter SWCNTs während des Herstellungsprozesses. Die Katalytische chemische Gasphasenabscheidung (CCVD) zeigt ein großes Potenzial bei der direkten Synthese von hochqualitativen SWCNTs mit Chiraler- oder Typenselektivität. Diese Dissertation behandelt drei wichtige Aspekte für das Wachstum von sc-SWCNT und deckt die Methodenentwicklung des schnellen Screenings für komplexe Katalysatorsysteme, die Prozessentwicklung für das typselektive Wachstum von SWCNTs und die Übertragung von Prozessen in einen spezifischen CVD-Reaktor ab. Der Reaktor, welcher eingebettet in die mikrotechnologische Prozesslinie ist, kann Wafer bis zu 8- Zoll verarbeiten. Raman-Spektroskopie mit mehreren Wellenlängen wird verwendet, um die Zusammensetzung von SWCNTs zu analysieren. Darüber hinaus werden verschiedene mikroskopische Techniken von REM, TEM und AFM verwendet, um die Oberflächenmorphologie von Katalysatorschichten und die Größe der Nanopartikel sowie die strukturbezogenen Eigenschaften von SWCNTs zu analysieren. Zunächst werden systematische Untersuchungen an monometallischen Co- und Bimetall-Co-Mo-Systemen mit unterschiedlichen Doppelschichtdickenkonfigurationen durchgeführt und deren Einfluss auf die Eigenschaften gewachsener SWCNTs auf Chipebene untersucht. Es wird gezeigt, dass durch Einstellung der Katalysatorabscheidungsbedingungen des Doppelschichtkatalysators sowie durch Optimierung der Gasumgebung im CCVD-Prozess die strukturbezogenen Eigenschaften von SWCNTs drastisch verbessert werden können. Darüber hinaus wurde durch die Verwendung eines Gradientenschichtkatalysators, welcher mittels einer Shutter-unterstützten Zerstäubungsabscheidung hergestellt wurde, ein schnelles und effizientes Verfahren zum Untersuchen verschiedener Doppelschichtkonfigurationen von Co-Mo, Co-Ru und Ni-Ru entwickelt. Unter Verwendung der Abscheidung einer Gradientenschicht mit einer fein aufgelösten Katalysatordicke wurden ungerichtete SWCNTs auf einem bimetallischen Co-Mo-System unter definierten Prozessbedingungen mit 45% (bei 633 nm) und 75% (bei 785 nm) halbleitender Anreicherung von langem und hochwertigem SWCNT gezüchtet. Im Gegensatz dazu wird das bimetallische Co-Ru-System unter definierten Prozessbedingungen entwickelt, um SWCNT in der Ebene mit 85% (bei 633 nm) und 75% (bei 785 nm) halbleitender Anreicherung von kurzer und geringer Qualität von SWCNT zu wachsen. Außerdem werden verschiedene Konfigurationen des Bimetall-Co-Ru-Systems aus Salzvorläufern durch Spin-Coating-Technik hergestellt. Es zeigt sich für die Bimetallkonfiguration, die durch Mischung von Cobalt (II) -chlorid und Ruthenium (III) -nitrosylacetat, ein zufälliges Netzwerk SWCNT zu 70% (bei 633 nm) und 95% (bei 785 nm) halbleitender Anreicherung langer SWCNTs mit hohem Anteil hergestellt wurde Qualität wird auf Waferebene gewachsen. Ein zufälliges Netzwerk-SWCNT mit einem hohen Grad an halbleitender Anreicherung wird als Kanalmaterial für die Herstellung von Dünnschichttransistoren verwendet, was zu einem CNTFET mit einem Ein / Aus-Verhältnis um 10*3 führte.:Bibliographic description 3 Vorwort 9 List of abbreviations and symbols 11 1 Introduction 15 2 Fundamentals of carbon nanotubes 21 2.1 Chemical bonds in carbon structures 21 2.2 Different allotropes of carbon 22 2.3 History of carbon nanotubes research 23 2.4 Structure of carbon nanotubes 24 2.5 Electronic properties of carbon nanotubes 26 2.6 Synthesis of carbon nanotubes 27 2.7 Growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes by CCVD 29 2.8 Catalyst for CCVD synthesis of SWCNTs 31 2.8.1 Catalyst nanoparticle formation from thin film 32 2.8.2 Mechanism of solid state dewetting 33 2.9 CCVD synthesis of SWCNT 35 2.10 Selective synthesis of SWCNT 37 3 Experimental 39 3.1 Preparation of different catalyst/support systems 39 3.1.1 Homogenous layer of catalyst prepared by PVD 39 3.1.2 Gradient layer deposition of catalyst by IBSD 41 3.1.3 Homogenous layer of catalyst prepared by spin coating 45 3.2 CVD reactors for synthesis of SWCNT 46 3.2.1 R&D vertical flow CVD reactor with showerhead 46 3.2.2 Industrial vertical flow CVD reactor with showerhead 47 3.2.3 Horizontal flow tube CVD reactor 49 3.3 Methods for characterization 50 3.3.1 Atomic force microscopy 50 3.3.2 Raman spectroscopy 50 3.3.3 Spectroscopic ellipsometry 56 3.3.4 X-ray reflection 56 3.3.5 Scanning electron microscopy 56 3.3.6 Transmission electron microscopy 56 4 Growth of SWCNT using PVD catalyst layer in vertical CVD reactor A 57 4.1 Monometallic Co catalyst supported on SiO2 57 4.1.1 Surface and morphological analysis of SiO2/Co 57 4.1.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on SiO2/Co 59 4.1.3 Chirality and diameter analysis of SWCNTs on SiO2/Co 61 4.2 Monometallic Co catalyst supported on Al2O3 62 4.2.1 Surface and morphological analysis of Al2O3/Co 62 4.2.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on Al2O3/Co 63 4.2.3 Chirality and diameter analysis of SWCNTs on Al2O3/Co 67 4.3 Bimetallic Co-Mo catalyst supported on Al2O3 68 4.3.1 Surface and Morphological analysis of Al2O3/Co-Mo 68 4.3.2 Effect of IBSD deposition parameters on NP formation 71 4.3.3 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on Al2O3/Co-Mo 72 4.3.4 Chirality and diameter analysis of SWCNTs on Al2O3/Co-Mo 76 4.4 Comparison of SWCNT from different catalyst configurations 77 5 Growth of SWCNT using gradient layer of catalyst 79 5.1 Analysis of grown SWCNT on Co-Mo using step gradient A 79 5.2 Analysis of grown SWCNT on Co-Mo using step gradient B 80 5.2.1 Growth of SWCNT by utilizing shutter at position I 80 5.2.2 Growth of SWCNT by utilizing shutter at position II 82 5.2.3 Effect of vacuum breaking on CCVD growth of SWCNT 83 6 Growth of SWCNT using gradient layer catalyst in vertical CVD reactor B 87 6.1 SWCNT growth on gradient layer of monometallic catalyst 87 6.1.1 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Co 87 6.1.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Ni 89 6.1.3 Comparison of SWCNT properties for monometallic of Ni and Co 90 6.2 SWCNT growth on gradient layer of bimetallic catalyst 92 6.2.1 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Co-Mo 92 6.2.2 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on gradient layer of Co-Ru 95 6.2.3 Comparison of SWCNTs on Co-Mo and Co-Ru catalyst systems 98 6.2.4 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNTs on gradient layer of Ni-Ru 100 7 Growth of SWCNT using spin-coated catalyst precursor in horizontal CVD reactor 103 7.1 Effect of CCVD growth temperature on SWCNT properties 103 7.2 Effect of catalyst calcination temperature on SWCNT properties 103 7.3 Analysis of CCVD grown SWCNT on Co and Co-Ru 105 7.3.1 Monolayer configuration of different Co precursors 105 7.3.2 Bilayer configuration of Co and Ru precursors 106 7.3.3 Trilayer configuration of Co and Ru precursors 107 7.3.4 Monolayer configuration of Mixture Co and Ru precursors 109 7.3.5 Comparison of SWCNTs on different catalyst configurations 110 8 Growth of SWCNT using spin-coated catalyst precursor in vertical CVD reactor B 113 8.1 Growth of SWCNT on Mixture of Co and Ru precursors 113 8.2 Effect of CVD reactor geometry on SWCNT properties 115 8.3 Effect of catalyst preparation technique on SWCNT properties 116 8.4 Wafer-level growth of SWCNT on bimetallic Co-Ru 117 9 SWCNT-based device fabrication 119 9.1 Different approaches for SWCNT-based device fabrication 119 9.2 Growth-based technique for SWCNT-based device fabrication 121 9.2.1 FET fabrication on in-plane random network SWCNT 121 9.2.2 FET fabrication on out-of-plane random network SWCNT 123 10 Summary and outlook 127 Appendix 131 Bibliography 171 List of tables 183 List of figures 185 Versicherung 197 Theses 199 Curriculum vitae 201 List of publications 203

Στόχος της διδακτορικής αυτής διατριβής ήταν η ανάπτυξη μιας μεθόδου παραγωγής νανοσωλήνων άνθρακα η οποία στηρίζεται στη χημική απόθεση ατμών, χρησιμοποιώντας ως πηγή του άνθρακα ενώσεις σε υγρή μορφή, όπως οι αλκοόλες. Επιπρόσθετα μελετήθηκαν διάφορες παράμετροι της πειραματικής διαδικασίας (πηγή άνθρακα, θερμοκρασία απόθεσης, είδος και συγκέντρωση μετάλλου και υποστρώματος, παρουσία υδρογόνου κ.ά), τόσο ως προς την επίδρασή τους στο ρυθμό εξέλιξης της διεργασίας, όσο και ως προς το είδος των παραγόμενων προϊόντων, με σκοπό τη στοχευμένη παραγωγή νανοσωλήνων άνθρακα με συγκεκριμένες ιδιότητες. Η κύρια πειραματική διάταξη αποτελούνταν από έναν θερμοβαρομετρικό αντιδραστήρα, ο οποίος επέτρεπε τη συνεχή μέτρηση των μεταβολών του βάρους του δείγματος σε συνάρτηση με το χρόνο, ενώ και φασματογράφος μάζας ήταν συνδεδεμένος στην έξοδο του αντιδραστήρα για να μελετηθεί η αέρια φάση των αντιδράσεων. Τα προϊόντα προκειμένου να πιστοποιηθούν ως προς το είδος των νανοσωλήνων που παρήχθησαν, χαρακτηρίστηκαν με τη βοήθεια ηλεκτρονικής μικροσκοπίας σάρωσης (SEM) και διερχόμενης δέσμης (TEM), καθώς και με φασματοσκοπία Raman και θερμοσταθμική ανάλυση (TGA). Τα αποτελέσματα των πειραμάτων οδήγησαν στο συμπεράσμα πως οι ατμοί της αιθανόλης είναι καλύτερη πηγή άνθρακα σε σύγκριση με της μεθανόλης, οδηγώντας μάλιστα στη παραγωγή μίγματος πολυφλοιϊκών και μονοφλοιϊκών νανοσωλήνων άνθρακα, με καθαρότητες που ξεπερνούσαν το 90%. Επιτακτική αποδείχθηκε η παρουσία του μετάλλου, το οποίο και αποτελεί το κέντρο πυρημοποιήσης για την ανάπτυξη των νανοσωλήνων, ενώ καθοριστική είναι και η χρήση υποστρώματος προκειμένου ο άνθρακας να αποτεθεί με τη μορφή αυτή. Επιπρόσθετα, η παρουσία του υδρογόνου αύξησε σημαντικά το ποσοστό του άνθρακα που αποτέθηκε οδηγώντας μάλιστα στο σχηματισμό μεταλλικών μονοφλοικών νανοσωλήνων άνθρακα πολύ μικρής διαμέτρου, η οποία υπολογίστηκε ίση με 0.45nm. / The main goal of this research was the development of a new method for the production of carbon nanotubes, based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which employs a liquid carbon source. In addition, a detailed investigation of the effect of several parameters (carbon source, deposition temperature, kind and metal concentration and support, hydrogen addition e.t.c.) on both the process and the final carbon product was carried out. For this purpose, a CVD experimental apparatus was developed, which uses vapors of liquid precursors and allows the continuously recording of sample weight changes in correlation with time. In some cases, a mass spectrometer was used as a way to determine the kind of processes that take place in the gas phase during carbon deposition. The solid product was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The experimental results led to the conclusion that ethanol vapors are preferable because they lead to higher yield of both multi-wall and single-wall carbon nanotubes. Also, it was proved that the presence of a metal catalyst and support is necessary, because the first one is the active site of carbon nanotubes formation, and the second leads to the deposition of carbon in this form. Additionally, it was proved that the use of hydrogen in the gas mixture of the process is very important, as a way to reduce catalyst, leading to the formation of metalic single-wall carbon nanotubes of very small diameter (0.45nm).

The search and research for high performance materials for aerospace applications is a continuous evolving process. Among several fibre reinforced polymers, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) is well known for its high specific stiffness and strength. Though high modulus and high strength carbon fibre with structural resin systems have currently been established reasonably well and are catering to a wide variety of aerospace structural applications, these properties are generally directional with very high properties along the fibre direction dominated by fibres and low in other directions depending mainly on the resin properties. Thus, there is a need to enhance the mechanical properties of the resin systems for better load transfer and to improve the resin dominated properties like shear strength and properties in directions other than along the fibre. Use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with their extraordinary specific stiffness and strength apparently has great potential as an additional reinforcement in resin for development of CNT-CFRP nanocomposites. However, there are several issues that need to be addressed such as compatibility of a particular resin with CNTs, amount of CNTs that can be added, uniform dispersion of these nanotubes, surface treatment and curing process etc., for optimal enhancement of the required properties. Epoxy and cyanate ester resin systems are finding applications in aerospace structures owing to their desirable set of properties. Of these, bisphenol E cyanate ester (BECy) resin of low viscosity with its low moisture absorption, better dimensional stability, and superior mechanical properties can establish itself as potential structural resin system for these applications. BECy in particular has the advantage of being more suitable for out of autoclave manufacturing process such as Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM). Literature shows that, significant work has been carried out by various researchers reporting improvements using CNTs in epoxy resins along with various associated problems. However, studies on effects of addition of CNTs /fCNTs to BECy-CFRP composite system are not well reported. Thus, objective of this work is to study the effects of adding pristine and functionalized CNTs to low viscosity cyanate ester as well as epoxy resin systems. Further, to study the effects on mechanical properties of nanocomposites with carbon fibre reinforcement in these CNT dispersed resin system through a combination of experimental and computational approaches. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) without and with different chemical functionalization are chosen to be added to epoxy and BECy resins. The quantity of these CNTs /fCNTs is varied in steps up to 1% by weight. Different methods of mixing such as shear mixing, ultrasonication and combined mixing cycles are implemented to achieve uniform dispersion of these nanotubes in the resin system. Standard test samples are prepared from these mixtures of nanotubes in resin systems to study the variation in mechanical properties. Further, these nanotubes added resin systems are used in fabricating CFRP laminates by VARTM process. Both uni-directional and bi-directional laminates are made with the above modified resin systems with CNTs/fCNTs. Series of experimental investigations are carried out to study various aspects involved in making of nanocomposites and the effects of the same on different mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Standard specimens are cut out from these laminates to evaluate them for tension, compression, flexure, shear and interlaminar shear strength. The main parameters investigated are the effects of varied quantity of CNTs and functionalized CNTs in the resin mix and in CFRP nanocomposites, effect of different mixing / curing cycles etc. on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The investigations have yielded very interesting and encouraging results to arrive at optimum quantity of CNTs to be added and also the effects of functionalization to achieve enhanced mechanical properties. In addition, correlation of mechanical property enhancements with failure mechanisms, dispersion behaviour and participation of CNTs / fCNTs in load transfer are explained with the aid of scanning electron microscope images. Computational studies are carried out through atomistic models using computational tools to estimate the mechanical properties, understand and validate the effects of various parameters studied through series of experimental investigations. An atomistic model is built taking into consideration the nanoscale effects of the single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and its reinforcement in the BECy resin. Using these atomistic models, mechanical properties of individual SWCNT, BECy polymer resin, polymer with different quantities of added SWCNT, and the CFRP laminates with improved resin are computed. As the interaction of CNT with the polymer is only at the outermost layer and the mechanical properties of either MWCNTs or SWCNTs are too high compared to resin systems, it is not expected to have any difference in the final outcome whether it is MWCNT or SWCNT. Hence, only SWCNTs are considered in computational studies as it helps in reducing the complexity of atomistic models and computational time when coupled with polymer resin. This is valid even for functionalized CNT as functionalization is also a surface phenomenon. To start with, the mechanical behaviour of SWCNT is studied using molecular mechanics approach. Molecular mechanics based finite element analysis is adopted to evaluate the mechanical properties of armchair, zigzag and chiral SWCNT of different diameters. Three different types of atomic bonds, i.e., carbon-carbon covalent bond and two types of carbon-carbon van der Waals bonds are considered in the carbon nanotube system. The stiffness values of these bonds are calculated using the molecular potentials, namely Morse potential function and Lennard-Jones interaction potential function respectively and these stiffness values are assigned to spring elements in the finite element model of the SWCNT. The importance of inclusion of Lennard-Jones interactions is highlighted in this study. Effect of these non-bonded interactions is studied by making the numerical stiffness of these bonds to negligible levels and found that they significantly reduce the mechanical properties. The effect of non-bonded Lennard-Jones atomic interactions (van der Waal interactions) considered here is a novelty in this work which has not been considered in previous research works. The finite element model of the SWCNT is constructed, appropriate boundary conditions are applied and the behaviour of mechanical properties of SWCNT is studied. It is found that the longitudinal tensile strength and maximum tensile strain of armchair SWCNTs is greater than that of zigzag and chiral SWCNTs and its value increases with increasing SWCNT diameter. The estimated values of the mechanical properties obtained agree well with the published literature data determined using other techniques. As the systems become more complicated with the inclusion of polymers, molecular dynamics (MD) method using well established codes is more adoptable to study the effect of SWCNTs on BECy. Hence, it is used to model and solve the nanosystems to generate their stress-strain behavior. Further, MD approach followed here can effectively include interfacial interaction between polymer and the CNTs as well. Mechanical properties of SWCNT functionalized SWCNT (fSWCNT), pure BECy resin and that of the CNT nanocomposite consisting of specific quantity of SWCNT / fSWCNT in BECy are estimated using MD method. Atomistic models of SWCNT, fSWCNT, BECy, BECy with specific quantities of CNT / fSWCNT are constructed. A monomer of BECy is modelled and stabilized before its usage as a building block for modelling of BECy resin and to compute its properties. A cell of specific size containing monomers of BECy and another cell of same size with SWCNT at centre surrounded by BECy monomer molecules are built. The appropriate quantity of SWCNT in resin is modelled. This model captures the required density of the composite resin. The models so constructed are subjected to geometric optimization satisfying the convergence criteria and equilibrated through molecular dynamics to obtain a stable structure. The minimized structure is subjected to small strain in different directions to calculate the Young’s modulus and other moduli of the CNT-BECy resin composite. The process is repeated for different quantities of SWCNT in BECy resin to obtain their moduli. Further, tensile and shear strengths of CNT-BECy are obtained by subjecting the equilibrated structure to a series of applied strains from 0 to 10% in steps of 1%. The stress values corresponding to each strain are obtained and a stress – strain curve is plotted. From the stress- strain curve, the strengths of the CNT -BECy which is the stress corresponding to the modulus after which the material starts to soften are determined. Effects of functionalization on mechanical properties of SWCNT are observed. Further, effects of functionalization of SWCNT are studied with a specific quantity of fSWCNT on different moduli and strengths of BECy are investigated. The properties of enhanced CNT–BECy nanocomposite resin with different quantities of added CNT obtained through MD are used to estimate the mechanical properties of the CNT-BECy-CFRP nanocomposite using micromechanics model. Further, validation with experimental results is attempted comparing the trends in enhancement of properties of the CNT-BECy resin and CNT-BECy-CFRP nanocomposite system. The outcome of this research work has been significantly positive in terms of i) Development of an appropriate process establishing different parameters for dispersing CNTs in the resin system, mixing, curing cycle for making of nanocomposites demonstrating significant and consistent enhancement of mechanical properties of BECy based resin system and CFRP nanocomposites using optimum quantity of CNTs /fCNTs through a series of well planned and executed experimental investigations. Evaluation of mechanical properties for each of the cases has been carried out experimentally. ii) Establishing a computational methodology involving intricate atomistic modelling and molecular dynamics of nanosystems for estimation of mechanical properties of BECy polymer resin and to study the effects by addition of SWCNT / functionalized SWCNT on the properties. Results obtained through series of experimental investigations have been validated through this computational study. This could be an important step towards realising the potential of this resin system for high performance aerospace applications. Thus, in brief, detailed experimental work combined with computational studies performed as presented in this thesis resulted in achieving structurally efficient cyanate ester based nanocomposites which is unique and not reported in open literature.