Ultrafast Formation of Free-Standing 2D Carbon Nanotube Thin Films through Capillary Force Driving Compression on an Air/Water Interface

Abstract

The Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) technique has been demonstrated as the most popular way to achieve freestanding two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) thin films on the surface of liquid, yet still suffers some limitations, such as the need of expensive instruments with complicated surface pressure detection and time-consuming processes, and thus is inaccessible to a large number of researchers. Here, we present a cheap, reliable, and ultrafast strategy to fabricate free-standing 2D CNTs networks on an air/water interface by a highly simplified LB method free of instruments, yet only with porous materials assisted capillary force driving compression. The formation of free-standing 2D CNTs networks with controlled thickness, transmittance, and conductivity could be further transferred to other various substrates. Growing polymer from one side of the flexible CNTs network allows us to achieve 2D hybrid Janus materials of polymer grafted CNTs thin films. This endows the conductive 2D CNTs hybrid networks with responsive chemical functionality, which is highly important for scalable developments as next generation flexible electronics in chemical sensing.

Network cracks-based wearable strain sensors for subtle and large strain detection of human motions

“…Recently, we explored a simple, green and cost-effective strategy to fabricate macroscopic free-standing CNTs-based thin films at air/water interface. 44 The CNTs films can be easily transferred from the water surface to various substrates and into multilayer hierarchical films, which would be an ideal sensing material for thin, light weight strain sensors. Herein, we report a simple and cost-effective method to fabricate high performance strain sensors based on a composite film consisting of multilayer CNTs films and PDMS.…”

Rationally Programmable Paper‐Based Artificial Trees Toward Multipath Solar‐Driven Water Extraction from Liquid/Solid Substrates

“…In this system, due to the slight oxidation of the CNTs, it can be dispersed uniformly into the ethanol solvent in a stable state (Figure S2, Supporting Information). As shown in Figure a, a large‐scale CNT film was self‐assembled on the water surface through a spray‐coating and capillary force driving compression strategy (Figure S3, Supporting Information), followed by an in situ transfer onto the paper surface. Based on the capillarity transfer mechanism, when the water penetrated through the porous CNT film to the fibrous paper, the generated capillary force can effectively enhance the supramolecular interaction between —OH on the surface of the CNT film and paper (Figure S4 and S5, Supporting Information).…”

Structure Design and Composition Engineering of Carbon‐Based Nanomaterials for Lithium Energy Storage

“…Xiao et al employed a Lamgmuir–Blodgett technique to fabricate freestanding 2D CNTs network on air/water interface ( Figure 9 A–D). CNTs in ethanol dispersions were rapidly pushed outward as being injected on an air–water interface due to strong Marangoni forces. A closely compacted CNTs film was formed when using a porous sponge to siphon water from one side.…”

“…D) A closely compacted state of the free‐standing 2D CNTs film could be transferred to any other various target substrates. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society.…”