The effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) functionalization in altering the properties of epoxy-CNT composites is presented. The presence of functional groups effectively influenced the colloidal behavior of CNTs in the precursor epoxy resin and the hardener triethylenetetramine (TETA), which affected the synthesis process and eventually the interfacial interactions between the polymer matrix and the CNTs. The physical, thermal, and electrical properties of the composites exhibited strong dependence on the nature of functionalization. At a 0.5-wt% CNT loading, the enhancement in tensile strength was found to be 7.2%, 11.2%, 11.4%, and 14.2% for raw CNTs, carboxylated CNTs, octadecyl amide-functionalized CNTs, and hydroxylated CNTs, respectively. Glass transition temperatures (T _g) also varied with the functionalization, and composites prepared using hydroxylated CNTs showed the maximum enhancement of 34%.

A novel immobilized fullerene–single wall carbon nanotube (C₆₀–SWCNT) complex was synthesized via a microwave induced functionalization approach. It has been used as a component of the photoactive layer in a bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cell. As compared to a control device with only C₆₀, the addition of SWCNTs resulted in an improvement of both the short circuit current density J_SC and the fill factor (FF). This device takes advantage of the electron accepting feature of C₆₀ and the high electron transport capability of SWCNTs. The results indicate that C₆₀ decorated SWCNTs are promising additives for performance enhancement of polymer photovoltaic cells.

Background: Differences in interlaboratory research protocols contribute to the conflicting data in the literature regarding engineered nanomaterial (ENM) bioactivity.Objectives: Grantees of a National Institute of Health Sciences (NIEHS)-funded consortium program performed two phases of in vitro testing with selected ENMs in an effort to identify and minimize sources of variability.Methods: Consortium program participants (CPPs) conducted ENM bioactivity evaluations on zinc oxide (ZnO), three forms of titanium dioxide (TiO2), and three forms of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In addition, CPPs performed bioassays using three mammalian cell lines (BEAS-2B, RLE-6TN, and THP-1) selected in order to cover two different species (rat and human), two different lung epithelial cells (alveolar type II and bronchial epithelial cells), and two different cell types (epithelial cells and macrophages). CPPs also measured cytotoxicity in all cell types while measuring inflammasome activation [interleukin-1β (IL-...