eprintid: 19257 rev_number: 16 userid: 2364 dir: disk0/00/01/92/57 datestamp: 2013-10-18 17:24:13 lastmod: 2016-11-15 14:14:02 status_changed: 2013-10-18 17:24:13 type: thesis_degree metadata_visibility: show contact_email: chemding@gmail.com item_issues_count: 0 eprint_status: archive creators_name: Ding, Mengning creators_email: med69@pitt.edu creators_id: MED69 title: Hybrid Materials Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene: Synthesis, Interfacial Processes, and Applications in Chemical Sensing ispublished: unpub divisions: sch_as_chemistry full_text_status: public keywords: Carbon nanotube, garphene, hybrid material, sensor, breath analysis abstract: Development of hybrid nanostructures based on two or more building blocks can significantly expand the complexity and functionality of nanomaterials. For the specific objective of advanced sensing materials, single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene have been recognized as ideal platforms, because of their unique physical and chemical properties. Other functional building blocks include polymers, metal and metal oxide nanostructures, and each of them has the potential to offer unique advances in the hybrid systems. In any case of constructing hybrid nanostructures, challenges exist in the controlling of composition, morphology and structure of different nanoscale building blocks, as well as the precise placement of these building blocks in the final assembly. Both objectives require systematical exploration of the synthetic conditions. Furthermore, there has been an increasing recognition of the fundamental importance of interface within the nanohybrid systems, which also requires detailed investigation. We have successfully developed several innovative synthetic strategies to regulate the assembly of nanoscale building blocks and to control the morphology of the hybrid systems based on graphitic carbon nanomaterials. We demonstrate the importance of surface chemistry of each building block in these approaches. Moreover, interfacial processes in the hybrid system have been carefully investigated to elucidate their impacts on the functions of the hybrid products. Specifically, we explored the synthesis and characterization of hybrid nanomaterials based on single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene, with other building blocks including conducting polymers, metal, metal oxide and ceramic nanostructures. We demonstrated the development of core/shell morphology for polyaniline and titanium dioxide functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes, and we showed a bottom-up synthesis of metal nanostructures that involves directed assembly and nanowelding of metal nanoparticles on the graphitic surfaces. Through electrical, electrochemical and spectroscopic characterizations, we further investigated their surface chemistry, interfacial interaction/processes, as well as their fundamental influence on the performance of the hybrid systems. We showed improved or even synergic properties for each hybrid system. Their chemical sensitivities, material stabilities, and charge separation efficiency were superior to individual components. These properties hold great promise in the real-world sensor applications, and can potentially benefit other research fields such as catalysis and green energy. date: 2013-10-18 date_type: published pages: 187 institution: University of Pittsburgh refereed: TRUE etdcommittee_type: committee_chair etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_name: Star, Alexander etdcommittee_name: Rosi, Nathaniel etdcommittee_name: Waldeck, David etdcommittee_name: Greve, David etdcommittee_email: astar@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: nrosi@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: dave@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: dg07@andrew.cmu.edu etdcommittee_id: ASTAR etdcommittee_id: NROSI etdcommittee_id: DAVE etdcommittee_id: etd_defense_date: 2013-06-06 etd_approval_date: 2013-10-18 etd_submission_date: 2013-07-02 etd_release_date: 2013-10-18 etd_access_restriction: immediate etd_patent_pending: TRUE thesis_type: dissertation degree: PhD citation: Ding, Mengning (2013) Hybrid Materials Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene: Synthesis, Interfacial Processes, and Applications in Chemical Sensing. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished) document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/19257/4/Mengning_Ding_ETD_2013.pdf