Carbon-Nanotube-PDMS Composite Coatings on Optical Fibers for All-Optical Ultrasound Imaging
Carbon-Nanotube-PDMS Composite Coatings on Optical Fibers for All-Optical Ultrasound Imaging
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DOI：
10.1002/adfm.201601337
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发表时间：
2016-12-13
影响因子：
19
通讯作者：
Desjardins, Adrien E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Noimark, Sacha;Colchester, Richard J.;Desjardins, Adrien E.
聚合物-碳纳米管复合涂层具有广泛的应用前景。然而，利用纳米管在亚毫米结构上制造这些涂层一直是一个挑战。聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)-碳纳米管复合涂层对光学超声传输特别感兴趣，它在生物医学成像和治疗应用中显示出前景。在本研究中，开发了由PDMS和亚微米厚度的多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs）组成的复合涂层的制备方法，并将其用于涂层光纤的远端。这些方法包括使用两种溶剂制备MWCNT有机凝胶，浸涂该有机凝胶，然后用PDMS复涂。这些涂层光纤用作全光超声发射器，可实现高超声压力（峰值高达21.5 MPa）和宽频率带宽（高达39.8 MHz）。它们的临床潜力通过主动脉的全光脉冲回波超声成像得到证实。本文的制造方法允许在微型或温度敏感表面上制造薄而均匀的碳纳米管复合材料，以实现广泛的先进传感能力。
Polymer-carbon nanotube composite coatings have properties that are desirable for a wide range of applications. However, fabrication of these coatings onto submillimeter structures with the efficient use of nanotubes has been challenging. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-carbon nanotube composite coatings are of particular interest for optical ultrasound transmission, which shows promise for biomedical imaging and therapeutic applications. In this study, methods for fabricating composite coatings comprising PDMS and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with submicrometer thickness are developed and used to coat the distal ends of optical fibers. These methods include creating a MWCNT organogel using two solvents, dip coating of this organogel, and subsequent overcoating with PDMS. These coated fibers are used as all-optical ultrasound transmitters that achieve high ultrasound pressures (up to 21.5 MPa peak-to-peak) and broad frequency bandwidths (up to 39.8 MHz). Their clinical potential is demonstrated with all-optical pulse-echo ultrasound imaging of an aorta. The fabrication methods in this paper allow for the creation of thin, uniform carbon nanotube composites on miniature or temperature-sensitive surfaces, to enable a wide range of advanced sensing capabilities.