Nanotechnology Research and Development

One of the important on-going areas of research of the IPT is to functionalize CNT side walls as it promises potential applications. Chemical modification to side wall of CNT may make it insulating for nanoscale dielectric or wide band gaps for electronic, optical, and magnetic applications. By attaching hydrophilic groups onto side wall, CNT can be dissolved in or compatible with water-like solvent or surface, essential to most biological systems. Different functional groups on CNT wall may find application in the development of different kind of sensors, composite material of unusual strength, and biosensors for the detection of cancer cells at the very early stage of the disease.

We have chosen to carry out the functionalization of CNT using cold plasma enhanced gas phase chemistry approach. In the cold plasma, the electron temperature is always much greater than the temperature of the gas. Our preliminary work shows that H atom has been attached to SWCNT producing C-H stretching mode in the infrared. The work is in progress to attach other functions to CNT walls and their measurement of electrical and mechanical properties.

Email: bkhare@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Phone: 650-604-2465

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