Self-Assembly of Uniaxial Fullerene Supramolecules Aligned within Carbon Nanotube Fibers

Abstract

The conductivity and strength of carbon nanotube (CNT) wires currently rival those of existing engineering materials; fullerene-based materials have not progressed similarly, despite their exciting transport properties such as superconductivity. This communication reveals a new mechanically robust wire of mutually aligned fullerene supramolecules self-assembled between CNT bundles, where the fullerene supramolecular internal crystal structure and outer surface are aligned and dispersed with the CNT bundles. The crystallinity, crystal dimensions, and other structural features of the fullerene supramolecular network are impacted by a number of important production processes such as fullerene concentration and postprocess annealing. The crystal spacing of the CNTs and fullerenes is not altered, suggesting that they are not exerting significant internal pressure on each other. In low concentrations, the addition of networked fullerenes makes the CNT wire mechanically stronger. More importantly, novel mutually aligned and networked fullerene supramolecules are now in a bulk self-supporting architecture.

Thermoresponsive Structural Coloration of Hydrogel Fibers

“…Fibers have a wide range of applications in civilian and military areas. With the development of technology, fiber materials are no longer limited to natural plants and animal furs but are further extended to glasses, , semiconductors, , carbon materials, − and polymers. − Fibers are widely colored by chemical dyes, which have many disadvantages such as environmental pollution, chemical disability, and unchangeability. Structural colors, generated by the interaction of incident light and periodic nanostructures, have attracted intense interest recently in a wide range of research fields, such as sensors, − optical encryption, , displays, − etc.…”