Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T13:59:21.091Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Characterization at Atomic Resolution of Carbon Nanotube/Resin Interface in Nanocomposites by Mapping sp2-Bonding States Using Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 June 2016

Yi-Feng Su ,
Jin G. Park ,
Ana Koo ,
Sarah Trayner ,
Ayou Hao ,
Rebekah Downes  and
Richard Liang
Yi-Feng Su
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Jin G. Park
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Ana Koo
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Sarah Trayner
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Ayou Hao
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Rebekah Downes
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
Richard Liang*
Affiliation:
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
*
*Corresponding author. [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Functionalization is critical for improving mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polymer nanocomposites. A fundamental understanding of the role of the CNT/polymer interface and bonding structure is key to improving functionalization procedures for higher mechanical performance. In this study, we investigated the effects of chemical functionalization on the nanocomposite interface at atomic resolution to provide direct and quantifiable information of the interactions and interface formation between CNT surfaces and adjacent resin molecules. We observed and compared electronic structures and their changes at the interfaces of nonfunctionalized and functionalized CNT/polymer nanocomposite samples via scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) spectrum imaging techniques. The results show that the state of sp2 bonding and its distribution at the CNT/resin interface can be clearly visualized through EELS mapping. We found that the functionalized CNT/polymer samples exhibited a lower fraction of sp2 bonding and a lower π*/σ* ratio compared with the nonfunctionalized cases. A good correlation between near-edge fine structures and low-loss plasmon energies was observed.

Keywords

carbon nanotubecomposite interfaceEELSTEM
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , June 2016 , pp. 666 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2016

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexandrou, I., Scheibe, H.J., Kiely, C.J., Papworth, A.J., Amaratunga, G.A.J. & Schultrich, B. (1999). Carbon films with an sp2 network structure. Phys Rev B 60, 10903–10907.Google Scholar
Arenal, R., de la Pena, F., Stephan, O., Walls, M., Tence, M., Loiseau, A. & Colliex, C. (2008). Extending the analysis of EELS spectrum-imaging data, from elemental to bond mapping in complex nanostructures. Ultramicroscopy 109, 32–38.Google Scholar
Berger, S.D., McKenzie, D.R. & Martin, P.J. (1988). EELS analysis of vacuum arc-deposited diamond-like films. Philos Mag Lett 57, 285–290.Google Scholar
Biercuk, M.J., Llaguno, M.C., Radosavljevic, M., Hyun, J.K., Johnson, A.T. & Fischer, J.E. (2002). Carbon nanotube composites for thermal management. Appl Phys Lett 80, 2767.Google Scholar
Botton, G.A. (2012). Probing bonding and electronic structure at atomic resolution with spectroscopic imaging. MRS Bull 37, 21–28.Google Scholar
Cheng, Q., Bao, J., Park, J.G., Liang, Z., Zhang, C. & Wang, B. (2009). High mechanical performance composite conductor: Multi-walled carbon nanotube sheet/bismaleimide nanocomposites. Adv Funct Mater 19, 3219–3225.Google Scholar
Cheng, Q., Wang, B., Zhang, C. & Liang, Z. (2010). Functionalized carbon-nanotube sheet/bismaleimide nanocomposites: Mechanical and electrical performance beyond carbon-fiber composites. Small 6, 763–767.Google Scholar
Coleman, J.N., Khana, U., Blaua, W.J. & Gunko, Y.K. (2006). Small but strong: A review of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube–polymer composites. Carbon 44, 1624–1651.Google Scholar
Egerton, R.F. (2011). Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy in the Electron Microscope, 3rd ed. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Fallon, P.J., Veerasamy, V.S., Davis, C.A., Robertson, J., Amaratunga, G.A.J., Milne, W.I. & Koskinen, J. (1993). Properties of filtered-ion-beam-deposited diamond like carbon as a function of ion energy. Phys Rev B 48, 4777–4782.Google Scholar
Hawkes, P.W. (Eds.) (2008). Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics: Aberration-Corrected Microscopy. Amsterdam: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Ijima, S. (1991). Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature 354, 56–58.Google Scholar
Krivanek, O.L., Dellbya, N., Murfitt, M., Chisholm, M.F., Pennycook, T.J., Suenaga, K. & Nicolosi, V. (2010). Gentle STEM: ADF imaging and EELS at low primary energies. Ultramicroscopy 110, 935–945.Google Scholar
Leapman, R.D., Fejes, P.L. & Silcox, J. (1983). Orientation dependence of core edges from anisotropic materials determined by inelastic scattering of fast electrons. Phys Rev B 28, 2361–2373.Google Scholar
Leapman, R.D. & Swyt, C.R. (1988). Separation of overlapping core edges in electron energy loss spectra by multiple-least-squares fitting. Ultramicroscopy 26, 393–404.Google Scholar
Longo, P., Twesten, R.D. & Olivier, J. (2014). Probing the chemical structure in diamond-based materials using combined low-loss and core-loss electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Microsc Microanal 20, 779–783.Google Scholar
Maigne, A. & Twesten, R.D. (2009). Review of recent advances in spectrum imaging and its extension to reciprocal space. J Electron Microsc 58, 99–109.Google Scholar
Müller, J.-O., Su, D.S., Wild, U. & Schlögl, R. (2007). Bulk and surface structural investigations of diesel engine soot and carbon black. Phys Chem Chem Phys 9, 4018–4025.Google Scholar
Papworth, A.J., Kiely, C.J., Burden, A.P., Silva, S.R.P. & Amaratunga, G.A.J. (2000). Electron energy loss spectroscopy of the sp2 bonding fraction within carbon thin films. Phys Rev B 62, 12628–12631.Google Scholar
Park, J.G., Cheng, Q., Lu, J., Bao, J., Li, S., Tian, Y., Liang, Z., Zhang, C. & Wang, B. (2012). Thermal conductivity of MWCNT/epoxy composites: The effects of length, alignment and functionalization. Carbon 50, 2083–2090.Google Scholar
Pennycook, S.J. & Nellist, P.D. (Eds.) (2011). Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy: Imaging and Analysis. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Reed, B.W. & Sarikaya, M. (2002). TEM/EELS analysis of heat-treated carbon nanotubes: Experimental techniques. J Electron Microsc 51, S97–S105.Google Scholar
Robertson, J. (2002). Diamond-like amorphous carbon. Mater Sci Eng R 37, 129–281.Google Scholar
Saitoh, K., Nagasaka, K. & Tanaka, N. (2006). Observation of the anisotropy of the inelastic scattering of fast electrons accompanied by the K-shell ionization of a carbon nanotube. J Electron Microsc 55, 281–288.Google Scholar
Shindou, E., Hamamura, N., Yoshida, A., Kaburagi, Y. & Hishiyama, Y. (2009). An EELS study on an individual boron-doped multi-walled carbon nanotube. Tanso 239, 162–168.Google Scholar
Sigle, W. (2005). Analytical transmission electron microscopy. Annu Rev Mater Res 35, 239–314.Google Scholar
Silva, S.R.P. & Stolojan, V. (2005). Electron energy loss spectroscopy of carbonaceous materials. Thin Solid Films 488, 283–290.Google Scholar
Spitalsky, Z., Tasis, D., Papagelis, K. & Galiotis, C. (2010). Carbon nanotube–Polymer composites: Chemistry, processing, mechanical and electrical properties. Prog Polym Sci 35, 357–401.Google Scholar
Stephan, O., Ajayan, P.M., Colliex, C., Cyrot-Lackmann, F. & Sandre, E. (1996). Curvature-induced bonding changes in carbon nanotubes investigated by electron energy-loss spectrometry. Phys Rev B 53, 13824–13829.Google Scholar
Stephan, O., Kociak, M., Henrard, L., Suenaga, K., Gloter, A., Tence, M., Sandre, E. & Colliex, C. (2001). Electron energy-loss spectroscopy on individual nanotubes. J Electron Spectros 114–116, 209–217.Google Scholar
Sun, Y. & Yuan, J. (2005). Electron energy loss spectroscopy of core-electron excitation in anisotropic systems: Magic angle, magic orientation, and dichroism. Phys Rev B 71, 125109.Google Scholar
Tomita, S., Fujii, M., Hayashi, S. & Yamamoto, K. (1999). Electron energy-loss spectroscopy of carbon onions. Chem Phys Lett 305, 225–229.Google Scholar
Wang, Z.L. & Hui, C. (Eds.) (2003). Electron Microscopy of Nanotubes. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers.Google Scholar
Wu, A.S. & Chou, T.-W. (2012). Carbon nanotube fibers for advanced composites. Mater Today 15, 302–310.Google Scholar
Yuan, J. & Brown, L.M. (2000). Investigation of atomic structures of diamond-like carbon by electron energy loss spectroscopy. Micron 31, 515–525.Google Scholar
Zobelli, A., Gloter, A., Ewels, C.P., Seifert, G. & Colliex, C. (2007). Electron knock-on cross section of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes. Phys Rev B 75, 245402.Google Scholar