Electrodeposition and characterization of nickel-carbon nanotube composite thin films with high carbon nanotube content

Abstract

In this work, we present the electrodeposition of nickel (Ni)-carbon nanotube (CNT) composite thin films and evaluate the CNT weight percentage in films using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). To increase the CNTs codeposition, the CNTs are functionalized with positive charges and the composite thin films are deposited with different current waveforms. Furthermore, two kinds of composite films with CNTs annealed at different temperatures (1200°C and 2600°C) were compared for their CNT contents also the nanoindentation hardness of the composite films were evaluated. The composite films with a maximum CNT content of 5.4±2.0 wt% with a hardness of 17.0±3.0 GPa are achieved in the case of CNTs annealed at 1200°C. In the case of CNTs annealed at 2600°C, the CNT content of the composite was found to be 3.7±2.0 wt% with hardness of 14.9±3.0 GPa. For all Ni-CNTs composites, mechanical strengthening was found in the composites compared with pure Ni films.