Monitoring a micromechanical process in macroscale carbon nanotube films and fibers

A study was conducted to monitor a micromechanical process in macroscale single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films and fibers using Raman scattering tests. The study introduced Raman measurements to strained macroscale SWCNT films and fibers. It was demonstrated that the structural deformation process of the micrometer-scale SWCNT networks can be determined by investigating the variation of the G' band under strain. The SWCNT films were directly synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). It was demonstrated that each SWCNT film can be sliced and twisted into a small fiber, as the fabricated films were mechanically anisotropic. It was observed that the downshifts of the G' band showed two-stage features when more Raman measurements were performed at different strains of SWCNT films. The deformation process of the SWCNT meshes in the strained film was also observed when the strain was applied to the films.