Methods for production and refinement of carbon nanomaterials

Abstract

Methods of synthesis, purification, and analysis of carbon nanomaterials are presented. Graphitic material is grown on Cu by CVD and by heat treatment of Cu following deposition of silane-based SAMs. A solution of ferrocyanide and ferricyanide was characterized by cyclic voltammetry using a Au working electrode. Suspensions of SWNTs were prepared and purified for the fabrication of electrodes on Ti/glass substrates coated with 3-APTES or OTS. Electrochemical characterization of the electrodes was attempted using the same Fe solution as for the Au electrode. This caused a loss of conductivity for electrodes prepared with 3-APTES and an increase in resistance for those prepared with OTS. The effects of cyanide, acetate, sulfate, and iodide solutions on SWNT network conductivity were examined. Sample characterization was carried out using SEM, AFM, UV-Vis/NIR and Raman spectroscopy, and a semiconductor characterization system.