Materials World Network: Fabrication of Polymer Composites and Sensors using Doped Nanotubes

这个材料世界网络项目建立在Pulickel M. Ajayan教授（Rensselaer理工学院；RPI）和Mauricio Terrones教授（Instituto Potosino de investigacacin Cientfica y technica; IPICyT，墨西哥）的研究实验室之间已经建立的成功互动的基础上，旨在使用氮掺杂碳纳米管（CNx）和其他基于纳米管的混合结构制造新材料和器件。除了CNx材料外，研究人员还探索了掺杂其他元素（例如磷）的新型纳米管的合成。研究重点是利用CNx纳米管和其他掺杂纳米管制造传感器和聚合物复合材料等新产品和原型。在这个项目的前三年里，研究人员证明了CNx纳米管中氮的存在在CNx纳米管与聚合物混合之前的分散中起着重要作用。此外，结果表明，含氮表面也易于化学官能化。这项研究解决了复合材料的制造，此外，将研究CNx纳米管作为气体传感器。在IPICyT，已经取得了大量生产CNx纳米管的进展。在RPI，重点是CNx纳米管复合材料的制造和表征。此外，本工作还探索了组装CNx纳米管和产生纳米管网络和结的技术。此外，该工作还研究了含有磷等掺杂剂的纳米管的新结构，并探索了这些材料的独特结构和电性能。在接下来的三年里，研究人员利用早期成功合作所产生的动力，增加学生和人员交流，并利用纳米制造方面的双边设施，在碳纳米管研究方面取得进一步的成果。来自两国的学生有机会融合跨学科专业知识，并参与材料科学和纳米技术前沿的研究。墨西哥学生和青年科学家参观美国实验室，参与纳米制造、传感器和聚合物复合材料的开发，并了解美国实验室的一般工作环境。同样，来自美国的本科生和研究生访问IPICyT并与墨西哥科学家合作。调查人员的教育工作除了讲座和讨论会外，还包括课程发展活动。

This Materials World Network project builds up on already established successful interaction between the research laboratories of Prof. Pulickel M. Ajayan (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; RPI) and Prof. Mauricio Terrones (Instituto Potosino de Investigacin Cientfica y Tecnolgica; IPICyT, Mexico) and aims towards the fabrication of new materials and devices using nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (CNx) and other hybrid structures based on nanotubes. In addition to CNx material, the investigators explore the synthesis of novel nanotubes doped with other elements, for example, phosphorous. The research focuses on the fabrication of new products and prototypes such as sensors and polymer composites using CNx nanotubes and other doped nanotubes. During the previous three years of this project, the researchers demonstrated that the presence of nitrogen within CNx nanotubes plays an important role in the dispersion of CNx nanotubes, prior to mixing with polymers. In addition, results showed that the nitrogen containing surfaces are also easy to functionalize chemically. This research addresses the composite fabrication and additionally, will examine CNx nantubes as gas sensors. At IPICyT, there has been progress that allows production of bulk quantities of CNx nanotubes. At RPI the focus is on the fabrication and characterization of composite materials with CNx nanotubes. In addition, this work explores techniques to assemble CNx nanotubes and produce nanotube networks and junctions. Also, the work examines new structures of nanotubes with dopants such as phosphorous and explores the unique structural and electrical properties of these materials.During the next three years of continuation of this project, the researchers utilize the momentum generated by the successful earlier collaboration to increase student and personnel exchanges and the use of bilateral facilities in nanofabrication to achieve further results in carbon nanotube research. Students from the two countries have the opportunity to merge interdisciplinary expertise and participate in research at the cutting edge of materials science and nanotechnology. Mexican students and young scientists visit the US laboratory to engage in nanofabrication, development of sensors and polymer composites, and learn about the working environment in US laboratories in general. Similarly, undergraduates and graduate students from the US visit IPICyT and collaborate with Mexican scientists. The education efforts of the investigators include curriculum development activities in addition to lectures and seminars.