Abstract
CNT-added surface treatment (CAST) is a newly developed technology that incorporates single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into a metal surface through alternate current electrolysis using a dispersion of SWCNTs in an alkaline aqueous solution. We apply this method to Al-plates and characterize their surface morphology and components through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. After CAST processing, protrusion structures of Al-oxide containing SWCNTs are formed on the surface of the Al-plate, and the surface morphology differs significantly from that of the surface of Al films treated through conventional anodic oxidation. The height and spacing of the protrusion structures formed on the surface of the CAST-treated Al-plates are 100 - 200 nm and 50 - 100 nm, respectively. In addition, we investigate the formation mechanism of the protrusion structure by applying a DC voltage between the working electrode (Al-plate) and a counter electrode immersed in a dispersion of SWCNTs in an alkaline aqueous solution. Comparing the Al-plate surface after treatment under both current directions, we propose a model for the formation process of protrusion structures containing SWCNTs based on catalyst surface etching.
Highlights
After Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-added surface treatment (CAST) processing, protrusion structures of Al-oxide containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are formed on the surface of the Al-plate, and the surface morphology differs significantly from that of the surface of Al films treated through conventional anodic oxidation
We investigate the fabrication of Al-oxide layers containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the surface of Al films through anodic oxidation using alkaline aqueous solutions
We demonstrated the fabrication of a protrusion structure of Al-oxide containing SWCNTs on Al-plates through CAST processing
Summary
The fabrication of polymer/CNT composite [14] [15] [16] has been extensively researched because it shows better thermal transport than the host material. Anodic oxidation is a common process for forming an oxide film on a metallic substrate through an electrochemical method. We investigate the fabrication of Al-oxide layers containing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the surface of Al films through anodic oxidation using alkaline aqueous solutions. We refer to this method as CNT-added surface treatment (CAST). We demonstrate that protrusion structures of Al-oxide containing SWCNTs can be formed on Al-plates through CAST processing. We discuss the formation mechanism of the protrusion structures containing SWCNTs based on catalyst surface etching
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