Research Projects

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have a potential for many application, including the reinforcement of composites used in the aerospace industry, development of sensors, or ultra-light electrical cables for signal transmission.

CNTs have good mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties while being extremely small (down to a few billionth of a meter in diameter). The objective of this research project is to grow homogeneous larger diameter long single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) using iron-based resulting in CNTs that are advantageous for structural applications. Once stable growth has been mastered using the iron catalyst the research will shift to grow SWCNT and multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) using a zirconium oxide catalyst. Changing the catalyst will produce the MWCNT's that have electrical and thermal properties that can be used in many composite applications in many different industries. Graphene Sheets will be grown on capper substrates using the CVD method. They are sheets for carbon atoms that are one atom thick. They have extremely good electrical properties and show potential for uses in solar cells, batteries and as reinforcements in carbon fiber reinforced polymers.

• Learn more about research projects in the Daytona Beach College of Engineering and its Department of Aerospace Engineering