The newly discovered atomically thin and layered materials which host electronic system that respond to longwavelength light in extraordinary manner can lead to a major breakthrough in the field of terahertz (THz) optics and photonics. However, their low conductivities due to either low densities or low mobility make it challenging to characterize their basic THz properties with the standard spectroscopic method. Here, we develop a THz spectroscopic technique based on parallel plate waveguide (PPWG) to overcome the limitations of the conventional THz time domain spectroscopy (TDS) technique. The present method is particularly suitable to ultrathin conductive materials with low carrier density. We report in details the derivation of the dispersion equations of the terahertz wave propagation in a PPWG loaded by a thin conductive materials with zero-thickness. These dispersion equations for transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) waveguide modes are the core of the optical parameters extraction algorithm in the THz-PPWG-TDS analysis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the waveguide approach by characterizing low conductive CVD graphene. The high sensitivity of THz-PPWG-TDS technique enables us to study the carrier dynamics in graphene with Drude and Drude-Smith model.
There is a strong need for small, lightweight energy storage devices that can satisfy the ever increasing power and
energy demands of micro unmanned systems. Currently, most commercial and developmental micro unmanned systems
utilize commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) lithium polymer batteries for their energy storage needs. While COTS lithium
polymer batteries are the industry norm, the weight of these batteries can account for up to 60% of the overall system
mass and the capacity of these batteries can limit mission durations to the order of only a few minutes. One method to
increase vehicle endurance without adding mass or sacrificing payload capabilities is to incorporate multiple system
functions into a single material or structure. For example, the body or chassis of a micro vehicle could be replaced with
a multifunctional material that would serve as both the vehicle structure and the on-board energy storage device.
In this paper we present recent progress towards the development of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based structural-energy
storage devices for micro unmanned systems. Randomly oriented and vertically aligned CNT-polymer composite
electrodes with varying degrees of flexibility are used as the primary building blocks for lightweight structural-supercapacitors.
For the purpose of this study, the mechanical properties of the CNT-based electrodes and the charge-discharge
behavior of the supercapacitor devices are examined. Because incorporating multifunctionality into a single
component often degrades the properties or performance of individual structures, the performance and property tradeoffs
of the CNT-based structural-energy storage devices will also be discussed.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Resistance, NOx, Principal component analysis, Carbon nanotubes, Data acquisition, Chemical analysis, Carbon monoxide, Gas sensors, Linear filtering
Thin films of functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes were deposited on silicon chips by drop-coating and inkjet printing. These sensors were subjected to 1-100 ppm NOx, CO, H2S and H2O vapor in synthetic air. We have found that besides the expected changes in the electrical resistance of the film, there are also characterteristic differences in the noise pattern of the resistance vs. time function. This phenomenon is called fluctuation enhanced sensing and it can be used to increase the amount of information gathered from a carbon nanotube sensor device. The main advantage of fluctuation enhanced sensing is the improved selectivity of the sensor even if changes in electical resistance are rather low. Combined with differentiation based on modifying the adsorption characterstics of the nanotubes (e.g. by covalent functionalization), fluctuation enhanced sensing appears to be a very useful method for bringing cheap and reliable carbon nanotube based chemical sensors to the market.
Recent studies at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have shown that electric field can have a profound effect on individual carbon nanotube ensembles. We have shown that nanotubes can be aligned along the electric field lines, and can also be made to move along the field lines above a critical or threshold electric field. Experiments were repeated with nano-particles such as C-60 (fullerenes) and these effects were not observed, which indicates that the aspect ratio and one-dimensionality of the nanotubes plays a critical role. These observations can foreshadow novel electro-mechanical applications for nanotube elements.
This talk will focus on the directed assembly of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on various substrates into highly organized structures that include vertically and horizontally oriented arrays, ordered fibers and porous membranes. The concept of growing such architectures is based on growth selectivity on certain surfaces compared to others. Selective placement of ordered nanotube arrays is achieved on patterned templates prepared by lithography or oxide templates with well-defined pores. Growth of nanotubes is achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using hydrocarbon precursors and vapor phase catalyst delivery. The new technique developed in our laboratory allows enormous flexibility in building a large number of complex structures based on nanotube building units. The talk will provide an insight into the creation process of the longest (single walled) nanotube strands. We will also discuss some of our recent efforts in creating nanotube circuits selectively and controllably and on the spatially resolved electronic properties of nanotubes.
Carbon nanotubes have fascinating physical properties. In order to use these novel one-dimensional structures for applications (such as in electronic devices, mechanical reinforcements and nano-electromechanical systems) the structure of nanotubes needs to be tailored and various architectures have to be configured using nanotube building blocks. This paper will focus on the directed and self-assembly of nanotubes on planar substrates into hierarchical structures that include oriented arrays, and ordered bundles. This is achieved by patterning substrates with or without metal catalysts. Growth of nanotubes is typically achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Various strategies to build two-dimensional and three-dimensional architectures of nanotubes will be described by this method. In addition to creating pristine nanotube arrays on planar substrates, the paper will also cover some of our recent efforts in fabricating nanotube polymer hybrids. Recent efforts and challenges in manipulating nanotube on surfaces and measuring transport properties will be discussed. In conclusion, a perspective will be given on our recent efforts in creating controlled structures with nanotubes and measuring some of their properties.
We have observed an appearance of a wavelike (ripple) structures on GaAs due to influence of ultrafast (fs) laser pulses. Optical and atomic force microscopy studies revealed the double wavelength characters of ripples inside and outside of the illuminated areas. Raman investigations showed the existence of zinc-blend to cubic transitions in crystalline symmetry at the peripherical part of the irradiated area.
Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) of vanadium-nitride (V2N, V10N7) films on Si substrates have been carried out under influence of series of UV (excimer) laser pulses ((lambda) equals 308 nm, (tau) FWHM equals 25 ns) in NH3 atmosphere of a few mbars. In the reaction cell the Si target has been placed to be parallel to V sheet at angle of 45 degree(s) to the incident laser beam, and the plasma plume induced by laser pulse reached the target close perpendicularly. The number of shots at fluxes of 30 J/cm2 were varied between 100 and 5000. Rutherford Back- Scattering studies revealed that under influence of laser pulses at Si layer V2N layers of 100 nm thickness were formed, while the composition of the layer closer atmosphere was V10N7 of 50 nm thickness (in average). In some cases we observed layers of VNCO and V10N7C5. Atomic Force Microscopy measurements revealed a formation of quite smooth surfaces with roughness of less than 10 nm. A characteristic wave-like structure with period of 3 - 5 nm was able to be observed in some cases. XPS examinations showed the existence of well defined peaks of V(2p) lines at 516 eV and 513 eV. Also we observed lines of N(1s) at 397 eV, O(1s) at 529 eV and C(1s) at 284 eV. From these investigations it might be concluded that PLD technique allows growing smooth VN layers on Si with a little, but measurable contamination of carbon and oxygen.
We report the oxidation of different metallic surfaces (V, Co, Ta, W, Pt) under influence of multipulse excimer (XeCl) laser irradiation in atmospheric air environment. Thick (approximately 0.2 - 10 micrometer) oxide layers have been grown after a few hundreds of laser pulses at the fluences of 1.2 J/cm2. The temperature behavior of irradiated samples showed nonlinear-nonequilibrium characteristics of oxide formation especially at higher repetition rates (greater than 100) of irradiation.
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