A parametric study of so-called "super growth" of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was done by using combinatorial libraries of iron/aluminum oxide catalysts.Millimeter-thick forests of nanotubes grew within 10 min, and those grown by using catalysts with a thin Fe layer (about 0.5 nm) were SWNTs. Although nanotube forests grew under a wide range of reaction conditions such as gas composition and temperature, the window for SWNT was narrow. Fe catalysts rapidly grew nanotubes only when supported on aluminum oxide. Aluminum oxide, which is a well-known catalyst in hydrocarbon reforming, plays an essential role in enhancing the nanotube growth rates.

Millimeter-tall vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were grown in 10-15 min by chemical vapor deposition from C(2)H(2)/Ar with or without water addition using Fe catalyst supported on an Al-Si-O underlayer. Using combinatorial catalyst libraries coupled with the real-time monitoring of SWCNT growth, the catalyst and chemical vapor deposition conditions were systematically examined, and millimeter-tall SWCNTs were obtained even without water addition. The key for millimeter-scale growth of SWCNTs is to limit the C(2)H(2) supply to below a certain partial pressure to retain an active catalyst. Water prolongs the catalyst lifetime under excess C(2)H(2) supply, whereas it deactivates small catalyst particles and degrades the quality of SWCNTs at the same time. We also observed a gradual increase in the diameter of SWCNTs with growth because of the coarsening of catalyst particles and found that water had no effect on this phenomenon. We demonstrate millimeter-tall SWCNTs grown by simply using C(2)H(2)/Ar gas without water addition, which revealed the mysterious role of water, and we show a practical route for the large-scale production of SWCNTs.

Bisphenol A based benzoxazine was prepared from bisphenol A, formaline, and aniline. This benzoxazine was used as a hardener of the epoxy resin. Curing behavior of the epoxy resin and the properties of the cured resin were investigated. Consequently, curing reaction proceeded without a curing accelerator. The molding compound showed good thermal stability under 150ЊC, which corresponded to the temperature in the cylinder of injection molding. Above 150ЊC, the curing reaction proceeded rapidly. The cured epoxy resin showed good heat resistance, water resistance, electrical insulation, and mechanical properties compared with the epoxy resin cured by the bisphenol A type novolac.

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