Effect of Spark Plasma Sintering on the Composition, Structure, and Conductivity of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes Modified by Cobalt Nanoparticles

Abstract

New composites based on nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles (N-CNT), the surfaces of which are coated with metallic cobalt nanoparticles, are obtained via spark plasma sintering (SPS). Their morphology, microstructure, phase composition, and electric conductivity are examined thoroughly. The compacting of Co-modified nanotubes under specified SPS conditions is shown to help retain nitrogen atoms in the carbon structure and substantially raise the conductivity of the initial material, from 450 S/m for N-CNT to ∼4000 S/m in the sintered samples.