CARBON-BASED MATERIALS (CM)

Carbon nanotubes are pipelike carbon molecules with walls just one atom thick. They are extremely strong, electrically conductive--and hard to make reliably. Carbon nanotubes have potential in fields such asnanotechnology, electronics, optics, materials science, and architecture. Carbon nanotubes spun to form long yarnlike fibers could outperform even the strongest bullet-proof materials on the market. A carbon nanotube aerogel incorporates the properties of both carbon nanotube and aerogel materials. These materials have very high electrical conductivity; they are thermally insulating and are ultra-lightweight. This session will cover the science and potential applications of carbon nanotubes, carbon based fibers/aerogels.

Topics:

• Current synthesis/mechanism of CNTs, carbon based fibers/aerogels
• Functionalization of CNTs, carbon based fibers/aerogels
• Morphology/property characterization of CNTs, carbon based fibers/aerogels

Invited Speakers

• Erik EINARSSON, University of Tokyo, Japan
• Krzysztof KOZIOL, University of Cambridge, UK
• Junichiro SHIOMI, University of Tokyo, Japan
• Stephene STEINER, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

The properties of graphene, carbon sheets that are only one atom thick, have caused researchers and companies to consider using this material in several fields such as Components with higher strength to weight ratios, Transistors that operate at higher frequency, Lower cost of display screens in mobile devices, Storing hydrogen for fuel cell powered cars, and Sensors to diagnose disease. This session will cover the science and potential applications of graphene.

Topics:

• Up to date synthesis /mechanism of graphene
• Functionalization of graphene
• Morphology/property characterization of grapheme

Invited Speakers

• Jani KOTAKOSKI, University of Vienna, Austria
• Kin Fai MAK, Columbia University, USA
• Jiwoong PARK, Cornell University, USA
• Li SONG, Shinshu University, Japan
• Feng WANG, UC Berkeley, USA
• Yuanbo ZHANG, Fudan University, China

CNTs/graphene have a large surface area , great amounts of energy could be stored in the aerogel, increasing the capacity of lithium batteries or supercapacitors used to store energy generated from renewable resources such as wind and the sun. CNT aerogels can also be used for the storage of nonwetting liquid, especially for the storage of high-energy liquids in fuel cell membranes, or as the negative electrode in lithium batteries.

Topics:

• Li Batteries
• Super-capacitors
• Fuel cells
• Solar cells
• Thermal interface management

Invited Speakers

To be announced.

Carbon based nanomaterials can be fabricated as electrical conductors, insulators, and semiconductors. Combining the larger surface area and improved electrical conductivity is also important in developing sensors that can detect toxins capable of invading the food or water supply. And the same technique can be used to develop equipment capable of detecting even trace amounts of explosives. Because of their good thermal transmission properties, CNT/graphene can potentially dissipate heat from computer chips.

Topics:

• Field-effect transistors
• Thermal management of electronic circuits
• Device Modeling and Circuit Simulation
• Chemical Sensing
• High Performance Thin Film Electronics

Invited Speakers

• Rolf LORTZ, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong Kong
• Yutaka OHNO, University of Nagoya, Japan

In the technological field of polymer nanocomposites, new potential applications may be obtain using carbon nanotubes as reinforced nanofibers and to impart unique electrical and thermal properties to the polymer matrix. Due its typical structure with high aspect ratio and anisotropic structure, carbon nanotubes show characteristic electrical and thermal properties. After verification of extraordinary mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes and its electrical conductivity and thermal properties, great excitement arise among researchers considering potential applications.

Topics:

• Multifunctional polymeric nanocomposites
• Multifunctional metal nanocomposites

Invited Speakers

• Naruo SASAKI, Seikei University, Japan
• Roberto Guzman de VILLORIA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA