K. Lilova, L. Brown
Setaram Inc., US
Keywords: carbon-based nanocomposites, thermogravimetric analysis, immersion calorimetry
Summary:
Single-walled (SWCNTs), multi-walled nanotubes (MWCNTs), nanocoils, onion-like carbons (OLCs) and nanodiamonds are attractive materials due to their two-dimensional structure, unique properties, and potential applications in many fields as electronics, catalysts, photonics, robotics, mechanics, energy storage, and orthopedics. All those new developments require a thorough study of the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of the nanocarbons and the corresponding composites. The density and the thermal expansion coefficients of MWCNTs-containing composites can be investigated using thermomechanical techniques. Thermogravimetry combined with differential scanning calorimetry, is a powerful method to determine the amount of the impurities, the effect of the thermal treatment, and the thermal stability of CNTs, graphene and nanocoils composites. The isothermal immersion and oxidative calorimetry are commonly used to study the surface properties and thermodynamic stability of CNTs and OLCs, which are critical for their applications as catalysts and energy storage materials. These techniques will be introduced and illustrated by several examples on 2D nanomaterials.