Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene - Research and Applications

Construct graphene into porous three-dimensional structures

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 11:15:00 +0000

Kyoto, Japan -- Researchers in Japan have developed a novel yet simple technique, called "diffusion driven layer-by-layer assembly," to construct graphene into porous three-dimensional (3D) structures for applications in devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. Their study was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The resulting products display a foam-like porous structure, ideal for maximizing the benefits of graphene, with the porosity tunable from ultra-light to highly dense through simple changes in experimental conditions. Furthermore, the process is easily scalable for creating large-area films which will be highly useful as electrodes and membranes for energy generation or storage.

"While we have only demonstrated the construction of graphene-based structures in this study, we strongly believe that the new technique will be able to serve as a general method for the assembly of a much wider range of nanomaterials," concluded Franklin Kim, the principal investigator of the study.

Source: http://www.icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp/e/pr/2014/10/16-nr.html

Graphene enable Italy's Vittoria to launch the world's fastest bicycle wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 09:46:00 +0000

International wheel producer Vittoria released a new range of bicycle race wheels that are built from graphene-enhanced composite materials. The new wheels (called Qurano) are the best wheels offered by Vittoria, and they say these are the fastest wheels in the world - all thanks to graphene.

The company explains that adding graphene to their carbon-fiber matrix built wheel rim improved the material properties by 10-30%. The graphene reduces temperature build-up, it increases spoke-hole strength and improves the lateral stiffness. Vittoria tells us that even though the Qurano wheels outperform their previous carbon-fiber wheels, they are priced the same.

Source: http://www.graphene-info.com/italys-vittoria-launches-graphene-enhanced-bicycle-wheels

Ultra-thin diamond nanothreads

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 09:38:00 +0000

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- For the first time, scientists have discovered how to produce ultra-thin "diamond nanothreads" that promise extraordinary properties, including strength and stiffness greater than that of today's strongest nanotubes and polymers. A paper describing this discovery by a research team led by John V. Badding, a professor of chemistry at Penn State, was published in the Sept. 21 issue of the journal Nature Materials.

Scaling graphene production for commercial applications

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 19:33:00 +0000

An official of a materials technology and manufacturing startup based on a Purdue University innovation says his company is addressing the challenge of scaling graphene production for commercial applications.

Carbon-Based Nano-Materials and Devices

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 11:58:00 +0000

An ECI Conference

November 3-8, 2013
Promised Land Resort & Lagoon, Hualien, Taiwan

This conference aims to provide a forum for researchers, scientists and engineers from different countries worldwide, who are actively involved in the research on nanoscience and nanotechnology, in particular on carbon-based nanomaterials and their device applications such as biological and chemical sensing, energy conversion and harvesting, electronic and photonic applications, catalysis, electrochemistry, and simulations, to disseminate their latest research results and development achievements. In addition to the exciting scientific and technological themes, the conference offers a platform to promote and encourage interaction among researchers for cross-fertilization of ideas and collaboration. The program will consist of a series of invited, contributed oral, and poster presentations. To enhance the interaction with poster presenters, they will also give a short introduction (3 min) to advertise their work. In addition, a panel discussion will be held to promote the interaction among scientists and researchers, including discussions on new research directions for carbon-based nano-materials and devices, summary of the current state of the art and future barriers, and projections of future frontiers.

Topics:

Synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials: carbon nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamonds, carbon-based thin films and molecules, etc.
Characterization and processing of carbon-based nanomaterials: surface and interface modification, functionalization, assembly and patterning, etc.
Devices and Applications of carbon-based nanomaterials: biological and chemical sensing, energy conversion and harvesting, electronic and photonic applications, catalysis, electrochemistry etc.
Multiscale modeling and computation in the above areas.

Conference website

Future looks bright for carbon nanotube solar cells

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 10:38:00 +0000

Light from the sun creates charges in an ultrathinfilm of carbon nanotubes (blue), which are extracted by fullerene C60 (brown) in this schematic of the groundbreaking proof-of-concept solar cell with greater than 1 percent efficiency.

In an approach that could challenge silicon as the predominant photovoltaic cell material, University of Wisconsin-Madison materials engineers have developed an inexpensive solar cell that exploits carbon nanotubes to absorb and convert energy from the sun.

Graphene 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 09:51:00 +0000

Toulouse (France) will host the 4th edition of Graphene Conference series, the largest European Event in Graphene, from the 6th until the 9th of May 2014 at Centre de Congres Pierre Baudis.

A Plenary session with internationally renowned speakers, extensive thematic workshops in parallel, an important industrial exhibition carried out with the latest Graphene nanotrends for the future and a brokerage event will be some of the features of this event.

Following the overwhelming success of the last three editions of Graphene, Phantoms Foundation is pleased to announce the fourth edition of this great event that will gather the Graphene community, including researchers, industry policymakers, investors and plans to be a reference in Europe in the upcoming years.

For more information visit: www.grapheneconf.com

Carbonhagen 2013 august 19-20

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 21:02:00 +0000

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are happy to announce the 2013 edition of Carbonhagen,

the fourth Nordic symposium on carbon nanomaterials, which is to be

held in Copenhagen, August 19-20. While adhering to our motto,

“Maximising the carbon footprint”,

as much as ever, we this year welcome also reports on other 2D

materials such as MoS2, hBN etc, as well as zero and one dimensional

derivations thereof (tubes, scrolls, particles). The homepage is online

with practical information, and will be updated continuously, as

abstracts and talks arrive in our mailbox.

The early list of confirmed speakers suggests that you will

experience an up-to-date blend of deep scientific insights,

cutting edge technology and fresh results:

· Ernie Hill (University of Manchester, UK)

· Antonio Castro Neto (Graphene Research Center, SG)

· Herre van der Zant (Delft University, NL)

· Mikhael Katsnelson (Radboud University of Nijmegen, NL)

· Alexander Balatsky (Los Alamos Nat. Lab. US; Nordita, SE)

· George Duesberg (Trinity College Dublin, IR)

· Thomas Michely (University of Cologne, DE)

· Xinliang Feng (Max Planck University, DE)

· Daniel Neumaier (AMO GmbH, DE)

· Ursel Bangert (University of Manchester, UK)

Many abstracts will be uploaded in the following weeks.

About this years meeting:

Participant limit. Noting the significant growth rate of roughly

25% per year, will this year keep a limit to the participant number

to 150 to make it easier to meet and find people, and to keep the

meeting intimate and focused. SO, please do not be late - we

could run out even before the registration deadline expires.

Zero-fee option. As always we have a zero-fee option for

students and researchers lacking funding options, as well

as regular payment options for the rest.

Breaking news. Following the “Breaking News” success of

CBH2012, we this year have two breaking news sessions.

We think it is great to have “lab-fresh” results presented at

the meeting. The breaking news sessions will be booked as

close to the meeting as we can.

Presentations, posters, prizes and deadlines

Talks. We are planning to have about 2 keynote talks (40 min),

10-11 invited talks (30 min) and 12-13 contributed (15 min) talks.

This is likely to change, as we will continue to work on making the

strongest possible programme. Oral and poster abstracts submitted

before deadline will be published on the website and in the printed

programme.

Posters. The poster session is a pivotal event, and we will strive to

make the prizes, the exposure and the

possibility of interaction as attractive as possible. IN CONTRAST to

most meetings and conferences we already book many of the

contributed talks before the deadline, so if you are interested in

giving a talk, we recommend contacting us early to propose your

talk: info@carbonhagen.com.

Exhibitors and sponsors. CBH is an excellent opportunity for

companies and researchers to meet, and we will this year

host a presentation session early in the meeting, where sponsors

and exhibitors can address the audience and introduce their

services or products. Please contact Kasper Nørgaard

(kn@nano.ku.dk) if you are interested in hearing about what

CBH can offer in terms of sponsorships and exhibition.

Deadlines

Abstract submission (posters): August 8, 2013.

Abstract submission (talks): August 1, 2013.

Registration: August 1 (or until the limit of 150 participants is reached)

For questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at

info@carbonhagen.com

Greetings from the organising committee:

· Peter Bøggild (Tech. Univ. Denmark)

· Bo Wegge Laursen (Univ. Copenhagen)

· Kasper Nørgaard (Univ. Copenhagen)

· Antti-Pekka Jauho (Tech. Univ. Denmark)

· Liv Hornekær (Århus University)

· Mette Lund Meisner (Tech. Univ. Denmark)

· Vibe Aarøe Drostgaard (Univ. Copenhagen)

EUROMAT 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Two Symposia related to CNT and graphene will be organized in the framework of EUROMAT2013 (Sept. 8th-13th 2013, Sevilla, Spain)

Symposium A31 : ‘‘Carbon-containing composites and materials’’

This symposium aims at comparing composites of any kind containing carbon-based elements: carbon fibres, carbon nanotube fibres, dispersed CNTs and graphene.

It will address their fabrication processes, properties, mechanical behaviour, and multifunctional performance, and includes the following areas of interest:

* Processing issues related to integrating nanocarbons (i.e. CNTs, graphenes, carbon blacks, nanohorns...) in composites

* Composites containing both nanocarbon and CF.

* New carbon-based composite materials with CNT fibres

* Advances in fabrication processes and performances of CF composites.

* Multi-scale characterisation of carbon-containing composites

* Nano versus micro in carbon-containing composites

* Multiphasic carbon materials (e.g., carbon electrodes)

Symposium A32 : ‘‘Carbon nanotubes and graphene’’

Carbon nanotubes and graphene-based nanostructures, are presently the most interesting and

researched low dimensional nano-materials. The symposium will focus on progress and hot topics

related to large scale production/processing, applications and industrial issues of carbon nanotubes

and graphene. This specifically includes:

* Synthesis, sorting and selection methods

* Production and applications of graphene stacked with boron nitride and similar 2D materials

* Functionalization, dispersion, processing of carbon nanotubes and graphene

* Electronic, optical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, graphene and related devices

* Biological activity and applications of carbon nanotubes and graphene

* Metrology and standardization

* Applications and industrial issues

ChemOnTubes 2012, Arcachon, France, April 1st - 5th 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:37:00 +0000

International meeting on the chemistry of nanotubes and graphene

After three conferences (2006, 2008 and 2010) and an increasing number of participants, the 4th occurrence of ChemOnTubes will be held again in the unique setting of Arcachon Convention Center, in april 2012. In addition to carbon nanotubes, which were the focus of conferences of 2006 and 2008, graphene is now a major subject for carbon chemists and is undertaking a significant scientific development. Since 2010, ChemOnTubes has opened up to the chemistry of graphene, while retaining many presentations around nanotubes. Likewise, the sessions of the ChemOnTubes 2012 conference will also be entirely dedicated to the chemistry of carbon nanotubes and graphene:

Functionalization, Dispersion, Sorting Composites, Porous Materials, Coatings, Energy Storage, Conversion and Harvesting, Nanomedicine, Biomaterials, Functional Materials, Catalysis, Filtration, Membranes, Organic Electronics

Deadline for abstract submission: 15 December 2011

See more details on the conference website: ChemOnTubes 2012

CARBON2011 (24-29 July 2011, Shanghai, China)

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Thu, 12 May 2011 12:52:00 +0000

The Annual World Conference on Carbon, which is held in the American, Asian, and European continents alternately since 2000, is a unique chance for the academic and industrial people involved in the science and technology of carbon materials and relative fields to assemble and discuss their current research. East China University of Science and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, co-host the Carbon2011 under the guidance the Asian Association of Carbon Groups.

With the rapid development of carbon science and technology, carbon materials play an important role in our daily life. Carbon is old, but it is new. With discoveries of fullerene in 1985, carbon nanotube in 1991 and graphene in 2004, carbon always attracts much attention. “Nice Carbon, Nice Life” is the theme for Carbon2011 and will become a forever theme.

The conference will cover all topics on Carbon Materials and Application. Sessions will be organized around the following topics:

1   Graphene
2   Nanocarbons
3   Carbon for Energy Storage and Conversion
4 Porous carbon and Adsorption
5   Carbon Fibers and Composites
6   Precursor, Carbonization and Graphitization
7   Computation and Modeling
8   Bio-carbon and Safety
9   Novel Experimental Techniques and Characterization
10 Bulk Carbon and Industrial Applications

Conference website

NANOCARBONS 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:30:00 +0000

Researchers from the Physical and Life Sciences are invited to participate in the **Nanocarbons 2011** Conference.
This conference is organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF).
The conference will take place on **6 - 11 September 2011** at Hotel Villa del Mare, Acquafredda di Maratea, Italy.

Submission Deadline: **29 May 2011**
**Grants for Young and Early Stage Researchers available.**
Further information can be found below and at: www.esf.org/conferences/11363
**Nanocarbons 2011: Carbon Nanotubes and Related Materials: From Physico-Chemical Properties to Biological and Environmental Effects**

6 - 11 September 2011

**Chaired by:**
**Dr. Sophie Lanone**, Inserm U955 - Équipe 04, FR

**Co-Chairs:**
**Dr. Pascale Launois**, CNRS-Université Paris 11, FR
**Professor Philippe Lambin**, University of Namur, BE
**Professor Stephen Klaine**, Clemson University, US

Programme

Nanomaterials have specific properties mainly governed by quantum physics or surface effects, and significantly different from those of macroscopic objects. Emblematic nanomaterials are carbon nanotubes, which have generated a worldwide, and highly competitive, scientific research activity. The general aim of this conference is, thanks to its pluridisciplinary approach, to give the different actors of carbon nanotubes (CNT) research (physicists, chemists, biologists) the proper level of knowledge required to discuss with the other participants and understand each other correctly. The conference will therefore propose courses accessible to scientists of different fields, as well as more specialized courses in each domain of interest, including the most recent advances on the subject. The program will focus on four general topics: synthesis/characterization of CNT, CNT chemistry, health effects of CNT, and environmental effects of CNT. This conference should allow scientists from the different fields to acquire, increase and share their specific knowledge, and to make their own research understandable to scientists from other disciplines.
[More]

Invited speakers will include

**Mélanie Auffan** - CEREGE Europole Méditerranéen de l'Arbois, FR
**Laszlo P. Biro** - Research Institute for Technical Physics & Materials Science, HU
**Davide Bonifazi** - FUNDP, BE
**Vince Castranova** - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), US
**Laurent Cognet** - Université Bordeaux 1, CNRS (UMR 5798), FR
**Alison Elder** - University of Rochester, US
**Chris Ewels** - Institut des Matériaux Jean Rouxel, FR
**Teresa Fernandes** - Edinburgh Napier University, US
**Emmanuel Flahaut** - Université Paul Sabatier, FR
**Dirk Guldi** - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, DE
**Roland Hischier** - EMPA, CH
**Agnes Kane** - Brown University, US
**Mathieu Kociak** - Univ. Paris Sud, FR
**Dominique Lison** - TOXI, BE
**Craig Poland** - Institute of Occupational Medicine, UK
**Aaron Roberts** - University of North Texas, US
**Michael Strano** - MIT, US
**Antoine Thill** - CEA Saclay, FR

How to Participate

Attendance is possible only after successful application. Full conference programme and application form accessible from www.esf.org/conferences/11363
A certain number of grants are available for students and early stage researchers to cover the conference fee and possibly part of the travel costs.

Closing date for applications: **29 May 2011**

Sponsor a Conference

This conference will be providing the opportunity for leading scientists and young researchers to meet for discussions on the most recent developments in their fields of research. We enable collaboration between international scientists from EU, first world and emerging countries which acts as a catalyst for creating new synergistic global contacts across disciplines.

We invite you to join us in harnessing this great potential, working towards an even more cohesive scientific force in Europe and beyond by contributing to our intense, dynamic and fun events.

If you are interested, please visit our **Sponsor Resource Center** page:
www.esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/sponsor-resource-center.html

EUROMAT 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:12:00 +0000

A Symposium "Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene" will be organized at the EUROMAT 2011 conference in Montpellier, 12-15 September 2011.

Extended deadline for abstracts submission : 15/02/2011
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The symposium will especially focus on progress and hot topics related to large scale production/processing, applications and industrial issues. This specifically includes :

- Synthesis and selection methods
- Electronic, optical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, graphene and related devices
- Functionnalization, dispersion, processing
- Metrology and standardization
- Composites and materials science
- Other applications and industrial issues

Graphene and the Carbon Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:14:00 +0000

New educative video by Dr. Jonathan Hare about the different forms of carbon. Enjoy!

ElecMol’10

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:59:00 +0000

5th International Meeting on Molecular Electronics to be held in Grenoble, France, from 6 to 10 December 2010. It will address eight topics (and respective keywords):

- T1: Single Molecules & Quantum Dots

devices, junctions, switches, nanocrystals, memories

- T2: Organic Electronics and Spintronics

OLED, OFET, single spin, molecular magnet

- T3: Organic Optoelectronics & Photonics

PV, laser, plasmonics

- T4: Graphene, Carbon Nanotubes & Nanowires

Functionnalization, preparation, characterization, integration

- T5: Self-Assembly & Supramolecular Architectures

SAMs, LB, LBL, molecular motors and machines, liquid crystals, block copolymers, supramolecular chemistry, switches, logic gates

- T6: Scanning Probe Microscopies & Near Field Approaches

STM, SNOM, AFM and derivatives, organization on surfaces

- T7: Molecular Theoretical Modeling

Quantum transport, MD, DFT

- T8: Bioinspired Approaches & Biomimetic Devices

DNA, membranes, nano-pores, micelles, catalysis, biomimetic, enzymes, photosynthetic systems, nanobiosensors

For more information, please visit the ElecMol 2010 website.

Scientific papers "in press"

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:08:00 +0000

- Dispersion of multi walled carbon nano tubes in a hydrogen bonded liquid crystal

- Tailoring optical and electrical properties of carbon nanotube networks for photovoltaic applications

- Blue-green luminescence by SWCNT/ZnO hybrid nanostructure synthesized in a simple chemical route

- Aptamers based electrochemical biosensor for protein detection using carbon nanotubes platforms

- Nafion and Carbon Nanotube nanocomposites for Mixed Proton and Electron conduction

- An increase in gas sensitivity and recovery of an MWCNT-based gas sensor system in response to an electric field

Inner space

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:21:00 +0000

Nanomaterials confined within the inner space of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit unusual behavior that differs from that of bulk materials; extensive research has been thus carried out on the encapsulation of various molecules in the inner space of CNTs in order to discover new properties of the nanomaterials. The chemically and mechanically stable pseudo-1D confined nanospace of CNTs can serve as an ideal environment for the template assembly of various nanomaterials. Since the confined nanospace of a CNT prevents molecules from reacting, as it impedes their movement, it can potentially be utilized for stable storage of various reactive materials. More

Buckypaper improves fire retardancy of plastic materials

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:18:00 +0000

Flame retardant materials have become a major business for the chemical industry and can be found practically everywhere in modern society. Unfortunately, conventional methods for making plastic flame retardant involve a range of often very toxic chemicals. It has already been demonstrated that the flame retardancy of polymeric materials without the use of toxic chemicals could become possible thanks to the synergistic effect of nanoclay and carbon nanotubes. In a step further, researchers have now shown that the use of buckypaper is more efficient as a fire retardant in polymer composites in comparison to directly mixing carbon nanotubes into the composite matrix. More

Using carbon nanotubes in lithium batteries can dramatically improve energy capacity

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:11:00 +0000

Batteries might gain a boost in power capacity as a result of a new finding from researchers at MIT. They found that using carbon nanotubes for one of the battery's electrodes produced a significant increase - up to tenfold - in the amount of power it could deliver from a given weight of material, compared to a conventional lithium-ion battery. More

Insights for Carbon Nanotube Technology (Nanocyl CNT Newsletter March 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:36:00 +0000

Key Initiatives Bring Bottom Line Benefits to Customers

Nanocyl's customers have a lot to look forward to in 2010—a bigger supply of high-quality carbon nanotubes, new global technical service, and more support in growing regional markets.

In 2009, we launched several initiatives to make this possible:
• Installed a 5,000 metric tons/year extrusion line for
PLASTICYL thermoplastic concentrates
• Developed high temperature thermoplastic compounds such as PEEK and PEI
• Upscaled the existing reactor to produce 60 metric tons/year of NC 7000 multi-wall CNTs

In 2010, we will have a new 400 metric tons/year reactor coming online in July for producing NC 7000 MWCNTs.
Also, a dedicated team of technical support specialists has been created to help you hasten the launch of your CNT projects. You can reach them at techsupport@nanocyl.com.
Finally, we opened Nanocyl Inc. in the U.S. as well as Nanocyl Chemical Korea.
Let us help you continue to prosper your business in 2010.

How to Successfully Compound CNTs for Conductive Plastic Applications

You can find the complete answers in the technical article, "Influence of Processing Conditions on Electrical Conductivity of PP/CNT Nanocomposites," recently presented at the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) 6th European Conference on Additives and Colors.

New Technical Paper Shows the Influence of Moulding Parameters on Polycarbonate NC 7000 Nanocomposites

In the technical paper, "Optimization of Injection Moulding Parameters to Maximize Surface Resistivity on PC/NC 7000 Compounds Requiring Perfect Surface Finishing," you can find out more information about the importance of injection speed and moulding temperature, as well as six practical guidelines for achieving the right surface quality and conductivity.

Nordmann, Rassmann Appointed as Distributor for Germany

We have appointed Nordmann, Rassmann (NRC) to be our commercial partner for NC 7000 MWCNTs and PLASTICYL thermoplastic concentrates marketed in Germany.
Download the press release

Nanocyl to Exhibit at Global Trade Events

Want to learn firsthand about the newest CNT products? Then talk with us at any of these trade events:
• Nanocomposites & Nanotubes Conference,
Brussels (Belgium), March 24-25
• JEC Composites, Paris (France),
April 13-15
• American Coatings Show 2010,
Charlotte NC (USA), April 13-15
• Chinaplas 2010, Shanghai (China),
April 19-22
• Nano Korea, Seoul (South Korea),
Aug. 26-28
• DISKCON USA 2010, Santa Clara (CA),
Sept. 23-24
• K-Show 2010, Dusseldorf (Germany),
Oct. 27-Nov. 3

Send us an email at sales@nanocyl.com with the trade event you’re attending, and we will finalize the best day and time with you.

Join Nanocyl at the Premier Conference in Europe for Applied Carbon Nanotubes

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:41:00 +0000

Nanocyl is pleased to invite you to the Nanocomposites/Nanotubes 2010 Conference, on 24th-25th March, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Brussels.

Take this opportunity to:

Learn about the latest industrial applications, presented by the leading chemical companies
Hear useful case studies about CNT utilization in TPU, PC, POM and other materials
Get practical information and technical support for reaching good surface quality in moulded parts
Gain first-hand knowledge on the newest advances, trends and regulations
Expand your professional network of contacts, resources and CNT experts

Also, be sure to see the presentation on Wednesday the 24th, “Carbon Nanotubes: Review of Their Actual Applications and Trends for the Future”, given by Dr. Michael Claes, Director of Nanocyl’s Technical Support Team.

In his presentation, Dr. Claes will share information about:

New ways to use CNTs as a cost-competitive and innovative solution for emerging applications
Case studies: How conductive masterbatches can be used in grades PC, PEEK, PEI, POM, PA6 and PA12
Performance advantages of CNTs in electronics, packaging, and automotive fuel pump lines
Overview of carbon nanotube technologies for elastomers and composites

For more information about Nanocyl’s participation in the conference, please contact Mr. Ruyssen, Business Development Analyst, at Denis.Ruyssen@nanocyl.com.

Also, register today for the conference. If you register via Nanocyl, you can get a 20% discount. Simply contact Mr. Ruyssen at Denis.Ruyssen@nanocyl.com for your discount form.

Or, you can go to www.nanosconference.com, and click on Register Now.

Evidence for electro-chemical interactions between multi-walled carbon nanotubes and human macrophages

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Carbon multi-walled nanotubes (MWCNTs) may have several dangerous effects on different cell systems, but the mechanisms responsible for their cytotoxicity are not well known yet. At present, very little is known about the electrical interactions between nanomaterials and cells. We aimed to verify whether MWCNT electrical properties could affect the so called “charge-sensitive” cell parameters, interacting with cellular electrical activity. Human macrophages were challenged with two fully characterised MWCNT samples, one tested as-prepared (MWCNT), the other one purified (by annealing at 2400 °C) and better electro-conductive (a-MWCNT). Our findings show that a-MWCNTs are less cytotoxic but possess a higher inflammatory potential, as compared to MWCNTs.

Moreover, only annealed and better conductive MWCNTs affect significantly the mitochondrial membrane polarity, the intracellular pH and the reorganisation of cytoskeleton actin filaments, cell functions strictly dependent on electro-chemical mechanisms. Based on our results, there is evidence for electro-chemical interactions taking place between cell membranes and electro-conductive MWCNTs. Such a specific behaviour could have wide-range applications in the biomedical field, not only concerning those cellular systems (neuronal and bone cells) sensitive to electrical stimuli, but also other cell systems.
(Silvana Fiorito, et al., Carbon Volume 47, Issue 12, 2009, Pages 2789-2804, doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2009.06.023)

A novel nanostructured poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid)–multi-walled carbon nanotube composite for blood-contacting applications: Thrombogenicity studies

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:40:00 +0000

Composite films of poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PLGA–MWCNT) having two different nanotube orientations, namely random and vertically aligned, have been fabricated and characterized. The effect of these nanostructured surfaces on platelet adhesion is evaluated. In particular, the thrombogenicity of the nanostructured composite films is compared with that of pristine graphite (a low thrombogenic material) and PLGA film, in order to determine the influence of surface chemistry and topography on platelet adhesion. The results in this study show that the PLGA–MWCNT composite with vertically aligned nanotubes exhibits very low levels of fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion, which can be attributed to both chemical and topographical effects. Platelet adhesion shows a good correlation with the presence of COOH groups and appears to be sensitive to the topographic features of the composite films. The results in this study suggest that in addition to chemistry, nanotopographical surface modifications could be an effective strategy in the development of low thrombogenic and hemocompatible materials.
(Li Buay Koh, Isabel Rodriguez and Subbu S. Venkatraman, Acta Biomaterialia
Article in Press, doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2009.06.003)

Carbon nanotubes-graft-polyglycerol: Biocompatible hybrid materials for nanomedicine

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:31:00 +0000

New biocompatible and water soluble hybrid materials containing multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as core and hyperbranched polyglycerol (PG) as shell were synthesized successfully. In this work, pristine MWCNTs were opened and functionalized through treatment with acid and polyglycerol was covalently grafted onto their surface by the “grafting from” approach based on in-situ ring-opening polymerization of glycidol. Some short-term In vitro cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility tests were conducted on HT1080 cell line (human Fibrosarcoma), because this epithelial cell line can be one of the first route of entry of the exogenous materials to the vascular system and therefore subsequent interactions with the whole body, in order to investigate their potential application in nanomedicine and to understand the limitation and capability of these material as nanoexcipients in biological systems.

(Mohsen Adeli, Narjes Mirab, Mohammad Shafiee Alavidjeh, Zahra Sobhani and Fatemeh Atyabi, Polymer Volume 50, Issue 15, 17 July 2009, Pages 3528-3536, doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2009.05.052)

Gas sensors for ammonia detection based on polyaniline-coated multi-wall carbon nanotubes

noreply@blogger.com (Osváth Zoltán) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:26:00 +0000

Polyaniline-coated multi-wall carbon nanotubes (PANI-coated MWNTs) were prepared by in situ polymerization method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the as-prepared PANI-coated MWNTs. Obtained results indicated that PANI was uniformly coated on MWNTs, and the thickness of the coatings can be controlled by changing the weight ratios of aniline monomer and MWNTs in the polymerization process. Sensors were fabricated by spin-coating onto pre-patterned electrodes, and ammonia gas sensing properties of the as-prepared PANI-coated MWNTs were studied. The results showed a good response and reproducibility towards ammonia at room temperature. In addition, PANI-coated MWNTs exhibited a linear response to ammonia in the range of 0.2–15 ppm. The effects of the thickness of PANI coatings on the gas sensing properties were also investigated in detail. The results suggest a potential application of PANI-coated MWNTs in gas sensor for detecting ammonia.

(Lifang He, Yong Jia, Fanli Meng, Minqiang Li, and Jinhuai Liu, Materials Science and Engineering: B 163, Issue 2, 15 July 2009, Pages 76-81, doi:10.1016/j.mseb.2009.05.009)