ИСТИНА

The outstanding properties of carbon nanotubes can be translated into macro-material if two important requirements are met: firstly, the nanotubes must be aligned; secondly, the nanotube length must be comparable with dimensions of a macro-sample or device. This work presents the results of the applied research comprising synthesis way for such centimeter-long aligned nanotubes; scale-up of the production process through growth, pulling of the nanotubes into big carbon cotton spools or pulling-and-spinning into threads. Although there are several methods discovered for synthesizing centimeter-long nanotubes, the macroscopic material requires the nanotubes in quantities, which are difficult or impossible to produce in laboratory bench scale. So it is necessary to scale up, which is a difficult chemical engineering problem. A floating catalyst bed synthesis rig is reported capable of producing at 1200°C carbon nanotubes, which are aligned due to in-process pulling. The aligned carbon nanotubes were investigated by electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis. It was shown that the material is dominated by aligned double-walled nanotubes. The direct measurement of the nanotube length by confocal profilometry method confirmed unprecedented length of individual nanotubes. Investigation of electrochemical properties showed an unprecedented robustness to voltammetry cycling in alkali solutions. The capacity exceeded 27 F/g. The rolled carbon nanotubes and nanotube-reinforced polymers in the form of thin tapes or fiber or bulky composites demonstrate dramatic and anisotropic boost of mechanical and electrical properties such as jump of strength of a polyurethane tape from 18 MPa up to 500 MPa