Controlled synthesis of high-density ultralong carbon nanotubes: progress and prospects

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20231204

Abstract

Abstract:

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have broad application prospects in many cutting-edge industrial applications, such as carbon-based integrated circuits, highly strong and tough fibers, mechanical energy storage, and flexible wearable devices due to their excellent mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical properties. The structures and morphologies (e.g., length, degree of alignment, defect concentration, and degree of cleanliness) of CNTs have a significant impact on their fundamental physical properties. Among various kinds of CNTs, only ultralong CNTs with macroscale lengths, low defect concentrations, and high degrees of alignment can fully demonstrate their intrinsic performance, and meet the strict requirements of cutting-edge fields. The key to realizing the practical applications of ultralong CNTs is to realize their mass production. However, their yields can hardly satisfy the needs, indicating that the synthesis of ultralong CNTs with high densities and yields is still facing numerous challenges. This review discusses the growth mechanisms of ultralong CNTs, analyses the reasons for the low yield of ultralong CNTs, summarizes the methods for synthesizing high-density ultralong CNTs, and introduces the latest advances in the practical applications of ultralong CNTs. Besides, this review also summarizes the scientific and technological challenges and gives an in-depth discussion of the development directions in the synthesis of ultralong CNTs.

Key words: ultralong carbon nanotubes, high yield, controlled synthesis

摘要：

碳纳米管因其优异的力学、电学、热学和光学性能，在碳基集成电路、超强超韧纤维、机械储能、柔性可穿戴设备等众多尖端领域拥有广阔的应用前景。碳纳米管的单体结构和微观形貌（如长度、取向度、缺陷浓度、洁净程度等）对其基础物理性质有显著的影响。在各类碳纳米管中，只有具有宏观长度、低缺陷浓度和高取向度的超长碳纳米管才能充分体现和发挥其本征的性能优势并满足很多尖端领域对其结构和性能的严格要求。实现超长碳纳米管实际应用的关键在于实现其大规模制备，然而其目前的产率远远无法满足应用需求，因而其在高密度、高产率制备方面依然面临很多挑战。深入讨论了超长碳纳米管的生长机理，分析了超长碳纳米管产率低的原因，系统总结了高密度超长碳纳米管的制备方法，并介绍了目前在超长碳纳米管实际应用方面的最新进展。另外，还总结了超长碳纳米管制备领域所面临的科学和技术挑战，并对未来的发展方向进行了深入的讨论。

关键词: 超长碳纳米管, 高产率, 可控制备

CLC Number:

TQ 127.1⁺1

Kaixuan LIU, Qinyuan JIANG, Fei WANG, Run LI, Ping ZHU, Kangkang WANG, Yonglu ZANG, Yanlong ZHAO, Rufan ZHANG. Controlled synthesis of high-density ultralong carbon nanotubes: progress and prospects[J]. CIESC Journal, 2024, 75(4): 1355-1369.

刘恺轩, 姜沁源, 汪菲, 李润, 朱平, 王康康, 臧永路, 赵彦龙, 张如范. 高密度超长碳纳米管的可控制备：进展与展望[J]. 化工学报, 2024, 75(4): 1355-1369.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Growth mechanism, synthesis technology, and application development of high-density ultralong CNTs[38-40]

Fig.2 Flying-kite growth mechanism of ultralong CNTs[38]

Fig.3 Characterizations of the catalyst region on a substrate[51]

Fig.4 Improving the areal density of ultralong CNTs by utilizing the pinning effect of nanomaterials[54-55]

Fig.5 Improving the areal density of ultralong CNTs by utilizing the preloading of catalysts and multi-cycle growth[56]

Fig.6 Improving the areal density of ultralong CNTs by utilizing SIDS[39]

Fig.7 Demonstration of the universality of SIDS[39]

Fig.8 Applications of high-density ultralong CNTs in semiconductor devices[34, 39]

Fig.9 Applications of high-density ultralong CNTs in airflow sensors[40]

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