scholarly journals Dry adhesives from carbon nanofibers grown in an open ethanol flame

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2719-2728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Lutz ◽  
Julia Syurik ◽  
C N Shyam Kumar ◽  
Christian Kübel ◽  
Michael Bruns ◽  
...  

Based on magnetic-field-assisted growth of carbon nanofibers in an open ethanol flame we fabricated arrays of carbon nanofibers with different degrees of orientation. Inspired by the dry adhesive system of geckos we investigated the adhesive properties of such carbon nanofiber arrays with ordered and random orientation. AFM-based force spectroscopy revealed that adhesion force and energy rise linear with preload force. Carbon nanofibers oriented by a magnetic field show a 68% higher adhesion (0.66 N/cm2) than the randomly oriented fibers. Endurance tests revealed that the carbon nanofiber arrays withstand 50.000 attachment/detachment cycles without observable wear.

2003 ◽  
Vol 774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice L. McKenzie ◽  
Michael C. Waid ◽  
Riyi Shi ◽  
Thomas J. Webster

AbstractSince the cytocompatibility of carbon nanofibers with respect to neural applications remains largely uninvestigated, the objective of the present in vitro study was to determine cytocompatibility properties of formulations containing carbon nanofibers. Carbon fiber substrates were prepared from four different types of carbon fibers, two with nanoscale diameters (nanophase, or less than or equal to 100 nm) and two with conventional diameters (or greater than 200 nm). Within these two categories, both a high and a low surface energy fiber were investigated and tested. Astrocytes (glial scar tissue-forming cells) and pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12; neuronal-like cells) were seeded separately onto the substrates. Results provided the first evidence that astrocytes preferentially adhered on the carbon fiber that had the largest diameter and the lowest surface energy. PC-12 cells exhibited the most neurites on the carbon fiber with nanodimensions and low surface energy. These results may indicate that PC-12 cells prefer nanoscale carbon fibers while astrocytes prefer conventional scale fibers. A composite was formed from poly-carbonate urethane and the 60 nm carbon fiber. Composite substrates were thus formed using different weight percentages of this fiber in the polymer matrix. Increased astrocyte adherence and PC-12 neurite density corresponded to decreasing amounts of the carbon nanofibers in the poly-carbonate urethane matrices. Controlling carbon fiber diameter may be an approach for increasing implant contact with neurons and decreasing scar tissue formation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice L. McKenzie ◽  
Michael C. Waid ◽  
Riyi Shi ◽  
Thomas J. Webster

AbstractCarbon nanofibers possess excellent conductivity properties, which may be beneficial in the design of more effective neural prostheses, however, limited evidence on their cytocompatibility properties exists. The objective of the present in vitro study was to determine cytocompatibility and material properties of formulations containing carbon nanofibers to predict the gliotic scar tissue response. Poly-carbonate urethane was combined with carbon nanofibers in varying weight percentages to provide a supportive matrix with beneficial bulk electrical and mechanical properties. The substrates were tested for mechanical properties and conductivity. Astrocytes (glial scar tissue-forming cells) were seeded onto the substrates for adhesion. Results provided the first evidence that astrocytes preferentially adhered to the composite material that contained the lowest weight percentage of carbon nanofibers. Positive interactions with neurons, and, at the same time, limited astrocyte functions leading to decreased gliotic scar tissue formation are essential for increased neuronal implant efficacy.


RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (23) ◽  
pp. 13898-13905
Author(s):  
Chuan Cai ◽  
He Gong ◽  
Weiping Li ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
Qiushi Jiang ◽  
...  

A three-dimensional electrospun carbon nanofiber network was used to measure press strains with high sensitivity.


Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Md Arifuzzaman ◽  
Muhammad Aniq Gul ◽  
Kaffayatullah Khan ◽  
S. M. Zakir Hossain

There are several environmental factors such as temperature differential, moisture, oxidation, etc. that affect the extended life of the modified asphalt influencing its desired adhesive properties. Knowledge of the properties of asphalt adhesives can help to provide a more resilient and durable asphalt surface. In this study, a hybrid of Bayesian optimization algorithm and support vector regression approach is recommended to predict the adhesion force of asphalt. The effects of three important variables viz., conditions (fresh, wet and aged), binder types (base, 4% SB, 5% SB, 4% SBS and 5% SBS), and Carbon Nano Tube doses (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5%) on adhesive force are taken into consideration. Real-life experimental data (405 specimens) are considered for model development. Using atomic force microscopy, the adhesive strength of nanoscales of test specimens is determined according to functional groups on the asphalt. It is found that the model predictions overlap with the experimental data with a high R2 of 90.5% and relative deviation are scattered around zero line. Besides, the mean, median and standard deviations of experimental and the predicted values are very close. In addition, the mean absolute Error, root mean square error and fractional bias values were found to be low, indicating the high performance of the developed model.


RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (25) ◽  
pp. 15416-15421
Author(s):  
Wen Xin ◽  
Zhixuan Wei ◽  
Shiyu Yao ◽  
Nan Chen ◽  
Chunzhong Wang ◽  
...  

Co9S8@carbon nanofibers with boosted highly active electrode–electrolyte area, fast kinetics and controlled volume expansion show an excellent cycling and rate performance in potassium ion batteries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingji Li ◽  
Zhilong Peng ◽  
Yazheng Yang ◽  
Shaohua Chen

Bio-inspired functional surfaces attract many research interests due to the promising applications. In this paper, tunable adhesion of a bio-inspired micropillar arrayed surface actuated by a magnetic field is investigated theoretically in order to disclose the mechanical mechanism of changeable adhesion and the influencing factors. Each polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillar reinforced by uniformly distributed magnetic particles is assumed to be a cantilever beam. The beam's large elastic deformation is obtained under an externally magnetic field. Specially, the rotation angle of the pillar's end is predicted, which shows an essential effect on the changeable adhesion of the micropillar arrayed surface. The larger the strength of the applied magnetic field, the larger the rotation angle of the pillar's end will be, yielding a decreasing adhesion force of the micropillar arrayed surface. The difference of adhesion force tuned by the applied magnetic field can be a few orders of magnitude, which leads to controllable adhesion of such a micropillar arrayed surface. Influences of each pillar's cross section shape, size, intervals between neighboring pillars, and the distribution pattern on the adhesion force are further analyzed. The theoretical predictions are qualitatively well consistent with the experimental measurements. The present theoretical results should be helpful not only for the understanding of mechanical mechanism of tunable adhesion of micropillar arrayed surface under a magnetic field but also for further precise and optimal design of such an adhesion-controllable bio-inspired surface in future practical applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastian Poerschke ◽  
Stanislav N. Gorb ◽  
Clemens F. Schaber

Dynamic adhesion is a key ability for animals to climb smooth surfaces. Spiders evolved, convergent to geckos, a dry adhesive system made of setae branching into smaller microtrichia ending as spatulae. Several previous studies concentrated either on the whole adhesive claw tuft on the spider´s foot that consists of attachment setae or on the single adhesive contact elements, the microtrichia with spatula-shaped tips. Here, the adhesion of single setae of the spider Cupiennius salei was examined and the morphology of the pretarsus and the fine structure of the setae were studied in further detail. Using individual setae fixed to force sensing cantilevers, their adhesion at different contact angles with a glass substrate was measured as well as their adhesive performance on substrates with different roughness and on smooth surfaces with different surface energies. The results show an individual variability of the adhesive forces corresponding to the seta morphology and especially to the seta tip shape. The tip shapes of the setae vary largely even in neighboring setae of the pretarsal claw tuft that comprises approximately 2,400 setae. Regarding surface energy of the substrate, the adhesion force on hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene was 30% of that on a hydrophilic glass substrate, which points to the importance of both van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds in spider adhesion.


MRS Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (46) ◽  
pp. 3145-3150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyungkyu Han ◽  
Stepan Kment ◽  
Anandarup Goswami ◽  
Ondrej Haderka ◽  
Radek Zboril

ABSTRACTA variety of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) phases and nanostructures have been explored for their applications in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) for solar-driven water splitting. In this case, anatase phase and TiO2 nanotubes offer significant advantages especially for PEC-based applications. Though, significant efforts have already been engaged to combine the advantages from both the fields, poor activation and the high electron-hole pair recombination rate of TiO2 electrodes, originating from intrinsic physicochemical properties, limits its practical use. As an alternative, we report directly grown TiO2 nanotubes (synthesized on Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) via facile electrospinning technique) on carbon nanofibers, using hydrothermal method. The hierarchical branch type configuration has an intimate contact between the TiO2 nanotube and carbon nanofiber backbone and offers higher photocatalytic activity than their respective individual components (namely TiO2 nanotubes and carbon nanostructures).


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (127) ◽  
pp. 20160996 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Papangelo ◽  
M. Ciavarella

We study the adhesion of a surface with a ‘dimple’ which shows a mechanism for a bi-stable adhesive system in surfaces with spaced patterns of depressions, leading to adhesion enhancement, high dissipation and hysteresis. Recent studies were limited mainly to the very short range of adhesion (the so-called JKR regime), while we generalize the study to a Maugis cohesive model. A ‘generalized Tabor parameter’, given by the ratio of theoretical strength to elastic modulus, multiplied by the ratio of dimple width to depth has been found. It is shown that bistability disappears for generalized Tabor parameter less than about 2. Introduction of the theoretical strength is needed to have significant results when the system has gone in full contact, unless one postulates alternative limits to full contact, such as air entrapment, contaminants or fine scale roughness. Simple equations are obtained for the pull-off and for the full contact pressure in the entire set of the two governing dimensionless parameters. A qualitative comparison with results of recent experiments with nanopatterned bioinspired dry adhesives is attempted in light of the present model.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document