RESUMEN
The electromigration behaviour of raw and acid purified single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in dilute aqueous systems (0.0034 mg mL-1), in the absence of surfactant, with the addition of either 0.85 M acetic acid or 0.1 M CuSO4, was evaluated using a 2-inch copper cathode and either a 2-inch copper or 0.5-inch platinum anode. The results showed that the electromigration of raw SWCNTs (with a high catalyst residue) in the presence of CuSO4 resulted in the formation of a Cu-SWCNT composite material at the cathode. In contrast, acid purified SWCNTs were observed to diffuse to a copper anode, creating fibrillated agglomerates with "rice-grain"-like morphologies. Upon acidification with acetic acid (or addition of CuSO4) the direction of electromigration reversed towards the cathode as a result of coordination of Cu2+ to the functional groups on the SWCNT overcoming the inherent negative charge of the acid purified SWCNTs. The result was the co-deposition of SWCNTs and Cu metal on the cathode. Addition of 0.005 M EDTA sequesters some of the Cu2+ and resulted in the separation of metal decorated SWCNTs to the cathode and un-decorated SWCNTs to the anode. The resulting SWCNT and Cu/SWCNT deposits were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, XPS, SEM, EDS, and TEM.
RESUMEN
We report a rapid synthesis approach to obtain branched Ag nanowires by microwave-stimulated polyvinylpyrrolidone-directed polyol-reduction of silver nitrate. Microwave exposure results in micrometer-long nanowires passivated with polyvinylpyrrolidone. Cooling the reaction mixture by interrupting microwave exposure promotes nanocrystal nucleation at low-surfactant coverage sites. The nascent nuclei grow into nanowire branches upon further microwave exposure. Dispersions of low fractions of the branched nanowires in polydimethylsiloxane yield up to 60% higher thermal conductivity than that obtained using unbranched nanowire fillers. Our findings should be useful for realizing nanocomposites with tailored thermal transport properties for applications.