Fabrication of laterally ‘sliced’ metal plated carbon nanotubes under aqueous continuous flow conditions

Abstract

Metal plating carbon nanotubes and controlling the dimensionality of nanotubes has thus far been severely hampered due to their clumping and poor wettability. Spinning disc processing (SDP) is an instantaneously scalable, continuous flow and high throughput flash nano-fabrication technology which embraces green chemistry metrics. Herein we highlight the efficient use of SDP in fabricating metal plated carbon nanotubes and slicing them laterally in aqueous media at room temperature under continuous flow conditions. The reported continuous flow approach addresses key issues of scalability, effluent treatment and hazardous work environment at the seed stage rather than spending enormous time/effort in making the technology scalable and non-toxic after development.