ABSTRACT
Bio-inspired 3D hierarchical nanowebs are fabricated using silicon micropillars, carbon nanotubes (CNT), and manganese oxide. The Si pillars act as artificial branches for growing CNTs and the secondary metal coating strengthens the structures. The simple but effective structure provides both chemical and mechanical stability to be used as a green catalyst for recycling waste polymers into raw materials.
Subject(s)
Green Chemistry Technology/methods , Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry , Nanotubes, Carbon/ultrastructure , Positron-Emission Tomography , Silicon/chemistry , Spectrum Analysis, RamanABSTRACT
A 3D network of single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded in poly-(dimethylsiloxane) is presented as a promising route to the fabrication of a flexible film with ordered and interconnected single-walled carbon nanotubes. This is possible using a simple transfer method of as-grown hierarchical single-walled carbon nanotubes on a Si pillar substrate. This film is used as a highly sensitive strain gauge sensor. This type of network embedded in a polymer film should be applicable to many fields involving mechanically stable and reliable strain sensors.
