Abstract: A method for making a polymer solar cell includes the following steps: placing a portion of a carbon nanotube layer into a polymer solution, wherein the carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes; curing the polymer solution to form a polymer layer including a first polymer surface and a second polymer surface opposite to the first polymer surface, wherein the portion of the carbon nanotube layer is embedded in the polymer layer, and another portion of the carbon nanotube layer is exposed from the polymer layer; and forming a cathode electrode on a surface of the carbon nanotube layer away from the polymer layer, and forming an anode electrode on the first polymer surface, wherein the anode electrode is spaced apart from the carbon nanotube layer.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon nanotube composite structure is related. A substrate having a first surface is provided. A carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes is placed on the first surface, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in direct contact with the first surface. A monomer solution is coated to the carbon nanotube structure, wherein the monomer solution is formed by dispersing a monomer into an organic solvent. The monomer is polymerized, and then the substrate is removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission electron microscope (TEM) micro-grid and a method for preparing the TEM micro-grid. The TEM micro-grid comprises a porous silicon nitride substrate and a graphene layer located on a surface of the porous silicon nitride substrate. The porous silicon nitride substrate comprises a plurality of through holes. The graphene layer covers the plurality of through holes. The method for preparing the TEM micro-grid provided in the present disclosure uses a carbon nanotube film structure to transfer a graphene layer to a surface of a porous silicon nitride substrate.

Abstract: A polymer solar cell includes an anode electrode, a photoactive layer, and a cathode electrode stacked on each other in that order. The photoactive layer includes a polymer layer and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the polymer layer. Each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes includes a first carbon nanotube portion and a second carbon nanotube portion. The first carbon nanotube portion is embedded in the polymer layer, and the second carbon nanotube portion is exposed out of the polymer layer and directly contacts the cathode electrode.

Abstract: A process for determining a content of hydrogen in a fluid medium includes contacting the fluid medium with a sensor. The sensor has a housing enclosing a chamber containing an ionic liquid electrolyte, a window which is permeable to hydrogen and positioned in an opening in the housing, and electrodes in contact with the ionic liquid electrolyte in the chamber. Hydrogen is allowed to pass through the window from the fluid medium into the electrolyte and the sensor is heated. Temperature and pressure of the fluid medium is determined and electrical potential is applied to the electrodes. The method also includes measuring current flow. The sensor can be used to observe hydrogen concentration by voltammetry. The method and sensor may be used for measuring downhole hydrogen content, monitoring fiber-optic cables for damage by hydrogen, corrosion monitoring, and in small-scale process plants where hydrogen is part of a gas stream.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery separator includes a separator substrate and a functional layer coated on the separator substrate. The functional layer includes a carbon nanotube layer and a hafnium oxide layer. The carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The hafnium oxide layer includes a plurality of hafnium oxide nanoparticles. The hafnium oxide nanoparticles are adsorbed on surfaces of the carbon nanotubes. The present disclosure also relates to a lithium-sulfur battery comprising the lithium-sulfur battery separator.

Abstract: A method for making a lithium-sulfur battery separator includes providing a separator substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and forming a functional layer on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. A method of forming the functional layer includes providing a carbon nanotube layer comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes; etching the carbon nanotube layer to form defects on surfaces of the plurality of carbon nanotubes; and forming a hafnium oxide layer on the defects to form a carbon nanotube/hafnium oxide composite layer.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing semiconducting nanowires from metallic nanowires is related and including: applying nanowires on a substrate; making a metal electrode on the substrate and electrically connected to the nanowires; taking a SEM image of the nanowires and the metal electrode, wherein the SEM image comprises light segments, and each light segment corresponds to one nanowire; and comparing length of each light segment with length of corresponding one nanowire, when the first length is same as the second length, the corresponding one nanowires is a metallic nanowire; when the first length is shorter than the second length, the corresponding one nanowire is a semiconducting nanowire.

Abstract: A semiconductor element includes a semiconductor structure, a carbon nanotube and a conductive film. The semiconductor structure includes a P-type semiconductor layer and an N-type semiconductor layer and defines a first surface and a second surface. A thickness of the semiconductor structure ranges from 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers. The carbon nanotube is located on the first surface of the semiconductor. The conductive film is located on the second surface of the semiconductor. The conductive film is formed on the second surface by a depositing method or a coating method. The carbon nanotube, the semiconductor structure and the conductive film are stacked with each other to form a multi-layered stereoscopic structure.

Abstract: Electromechanical polymer (EMP) actuators are used to create haptic effects on a user interface deface, such as a keyboard. The keys of the keyboard may be embossed in a top layer to provide better key definition and to house the EMP actuator. Specifically, an EMP actuator is housed inside an embossed graphic layer that covers a key of the keyboard. Such a keyboard has a significant user interface value. For example, the embossed key provides the tactile effect of the presence of a key with edges, while allowing for the localized control of haptic vibrations. For such applications, an EMP transducer provides high strains, vibrations or both under control of an electric field. Furthermore, the EMP transducer can generate strong vibrations. When the frequency of the vibrations falls within the acoustic range, the EMP transducer can generate audible sound, thereby functioning as an audio speaker.

Abstract: A high temperature resistant wire is provided. The high temperature resistant wire comprises a carbon nanotube wire and a boron nitride layer coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire. The boron nitride layer is coaxially arranged with the carbon nanotube wire. A working temperature of the high temperature resistant wire in the air ranges from 0 K to 1600 K. A working temperature of the high temperature resistant wire in vacuum ranges from 0 K to 2500 K. A detector using the high temperature resistant wire is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for making charged nanoparticles, the method includes: providing a solution with a first solute; atomizing the solution into micro-scaled droplets; providing a charged electrode with at least one through-hole, a negative or positive electric potential is applied to the electrode; allowing the micro-scaled droplets to pass through the at least one through-hole.

Abstract: A method of making carbon nanotubes is provided, the method includes depositing a catalyst layer on a substrate, placing the substrate having the catalyst layer in a reaction furnace, heating the reaction furnace to a predetermined temperature, introducing a carbon source gas and a protective gas into the reaction furnace to grow a first carbon nanotube segment structure comprising a plurality of metallic carbon nanotube segments, and applying a pulsed electric field to grow a second carbon nanotube segment structure from the plurality of metallic carbon nanotube segments, where the pulsed electric field is a periodic electric field including a plurality of positive electric field pulses and a plurality of negative electric field pulses alternately arranged, and the second carbon nanotube segment structure includes a plurality of semiconducting carbon nanotube segments.

Abstract: A method for making a carbon nanotube composite structure is related. A substrate having a first surface is provided. A carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes is placed on the first surface, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes is in direct contact with the first surface. A monomer solution is coated to the carbon nanotube structure, wherein the monomer solution is formed by dispersing a monomer into an organic solvent. The monomer is polymerized, and then the substrate is removed.

Abstract: A imaging device 1-D nanomaterials is provided. The device includes: a first light source, a second light source, a microscope with a liquid immersion object, and a carrier. The first light source is configured to provide a first incident light and the second light source is configured to provide a second incident light, the first incident light and the incident light are not parallel to each other. The carrier is configured to contain a 1-D nanomaterials sample and a liquid, both the 1-D nanomaterials sample and the liquid immersion object are immersed in the liquid.

Abstract: An epitaxial growing device to increase the speed of epitaxial deposition comprises a cavity comprising a reaction chamber, a gas supply unit, a vacuum pumping unit, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a carbon nanotube structure. A gas supply unit and the vacuum pumping unit are connected to the reaction chamber, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the carbon nanotube structure being located in the reaction chamber. The carbon nanotube structure is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode and suspended through the first electrode and the second electrode and is heatable in itself. A method for growing an epitaxial layer using such device is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The fuel cell includes: a container, wherein the container includes a reacting room, a fuel room connected to the reacting room through a fuel inputting hole, a fuel inputting door located on the fuel inputting hole, a waste collecting room connected to the reacting room through a waste outputting hole, a waste outputting door located on the waste outputting hole; a membrane electrode assembly device located in the reacting room, wherein the reacting room is divided into an anode electrode space and a cathode electrode space connected to the outside through a pipe, the volume of the anode electrode space and the cathode electrode space can be changed by moving the membrane electrode assembly device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising a flexible and free-standing carbon nanotube film, and a plurality of titanium dioxide nanoparticles uniformly adsorbed on a surface of each of the plurality of carbon nanotubes. The flexible and free-standing carbon nanotube film comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. A particle size of each of the plurality of titanium dioxide nanoparticles is less than or equal to 30 nanometers. The present disclosure also relates to a lithium-ion battery comprising the lithium-ion battery anode.

Abstract: A bonding method utilizing carbon nanotubes provides first and second objects to be bonded and a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure comprises a super-aligned carbon nanotube film comprising carbon nanotubes, the carbon nanotubes extending substantially along a same direction. The carbon nanotube structure is laid on surface of first object and surface of second object is pressed onto the carbon nanotube structure. Pressure being applied to the first object and the second object bonds the two together.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for using fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a container, wherein the container comprises a housing and a nozzle, and the housing defines through holes; the housing defines a chamber and an opening; the nozzle has a first end in air/fluid communication with the opening and a second end; and a membrane electrode assembly, which is flexible, on the container to form a curved membrane electrode assembly surrounding the chamber and covering the through holes, wherein the membrane electrode assembly comprises a proton exchange membrane having a first surface and a second surface, a cathode electrode on the first surface and an anode electrode on the second surface. The method includes at least partially immersing the fuel cell in a fuel; and supplying an oxidizing gas into the chamber.