Intercalation of Poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) into carbon nanotubes

The primary goal of this work is to fill 200 nm average diameter CVD Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with Poly-acrylonitrile (PAN) - a carbonizable polymer - with the diffusion process reported by Bazilevsky  et al.  and to control the thickness and structure of the PAN inside the CNTs. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used as a tool to monitor the morphology of polymer filled nanotubes. TEM images of CNTs that were filled using five different PAN concentrations of the PAN/DMF solution - 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 wt% - demonstrated that the intercalation process is independent of the initial PAN concentration in solution. Furthermore, a DMF rinse process was used to remove polymer that was clinging to the outer walls of the CNTs, allowing clearer visual of the PAN structure in the interior of the CNTs. Finally, TEM images of filled CNTs taken through a carbonization process demonstrated that the CNT samples were able to survive the high temperature, with some damage to the CNT walls.