An Exploration of the Flame Synthesis of Silicon Doped Carbon Nanotubes
Open Access
- Author:
- Marteeny, Donald Edwin
- Graduate Program:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- None
- Committee Members:
- Thomas Litzinger, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Harold Harris Schobert, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- Carbon Nanotubes
Nanotubes
Carbon
Silicon
Flame Synthesis - Abstract:
- Nanotubular structures have recently attracted a great deal of interest because of their high strength, high thermal conductivity, chemical stability, and unique electrical behavior. These properties suggest nanotubular structures may serve well in applications such as chemical sensing, temperature sensing, hydrogen gas storage, and polymer reinforcement. As it turns out, several materials, including silicon, carbon, and silicon carbide, all form this stable nanotubular phase; however, the variation of the material properties with the silicon and/or carbon content is unknown. To address this issue, an exploration of the flame synthesis of nanotubular structures composed of silicon and carbon in an unknown ratio or silicon ‘doped’ carbon nanotubes (SiCNTs) was completed. This exploration was broken into two parts. The first included an ignition study to address the issues of safe handling and use of silane and to test its reactivity with carbon dioxide. Safe test procedures and equipment were developed and carbon dioxide was found not to react with silane after a series of ten tests. The second portion of this investigation involved the use of a laminar diffusion flame burner to synthesize nanotubes on an iron catalyzed stainless steel substrate. Nanotubular structures in the range of 10 to 20 nm in outer diameter were synthesized and characterized in a field emission scanning electron microscope although the chemical structure of these nanotubular structures was not determined. Equipment and procedures, however, were developed for use in further SiCNT synthesis exercises.