Recent Advances in Characterization Techniques for the Interface in Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites

Figure 5

(a) Schematic diagram of the formation and evolution process of a nanobridge structure for an individual carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposite, (b) scanning electron microscope images of such a carbon nanotube suspended across a hole in a layer of the polymer blend film made of poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene using a self-assembly method (left) and the holes opened by using thermal and solvent treatment techniques after adding a second layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) film (right), (c) transmission electron microscope image of the nanobridge structure in a polymer film, and (d) atomic force microscope image of an individual, suspended carbon nanotube with two ends embedded in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix (adapted with permission from reference [101]; copyright 2017, Elsevier Ltd).

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