Deposition of silver nanoparticles on carbon nanotube by chemical reduction method: Evaluation of surface, thermal and optical properties

Abstract

Silver was stabilized on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by chemical-reduction technique using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as a reducing agent. The influence of silver on the performance of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated by employing Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy (RAS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta potential measurement, scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and reflectance spectroscopy (RS). FTIR as well as RS methods evidenced the synthesis procedure using chemical reduction method was successful. Performing TGA of the samples under oxygen atmosphere demonstrated that the silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) generated on MWCNTs surface can decrease the thermal stability of the particles by the catalytic oxidation of CNTs. In contrary, the thermal stability of the MWCNTs has improved under nitrogen atmosphere. EDX results showed the presence of Ag, Au and Co on the surface of deposited sample. The synthesised silver multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ag–MWCNTs) were found to have higher UV reflection activity compared with untreated particles. The Ag–CNTs can be used in producing anti-UV composites.