Nanowerk May 3, 2024
Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) exhibit outstanding mechanical strength, chemical stability, and electrical characteristics; however, their mechanical elasticity and chemical responsiveness are constrained. An international team of researchers (Republic of Korea, China) proposed a strategy to design and apply nanopatterned VACNTs (nVACNTs) based on a nanotransfer printing process to improve atomic penetrability. nVACNTs facilitate atomic penetration, allowing for the more consistent and higher quality deposition of functional materials. It also provides an improved coating of metal catalysts such as gold. The uniform deposition of ceramic layers on the entire surface of nVACNTs strengthens its mechanical resilience. Surface-decorated nVACNTs display an increased sensitivity to NO2 gas, which is attributed to the enhanced quality of the reactive catalyst deposition and augmented permeability. According to the researchers their strategy achieves a larger decorated area while increasing a catalytically active reaction area and expand the industrial applications of carbon nanotubes… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE