Growth of Ag nanoparticles using plasma-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This study presents a novel method for preparing multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) grafted with a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA)–silver complex(CNTs–HEMA–Ag complex) through plasma-induced grafting polymerization. Thecharacteristics of the MWNTs after being grafted with HEMA polymer are monitored byFourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The chelating groups in the HEMApolymer grafted on the surface of the CNTs–HEMA are the coordination sites forchelating silver ions, and are further used as nanotemplates for the growing of Agnanoparticles (quantum dots). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealsthat the particle size of Ag nanoparticles on the CNT surfaces increases with theAg+ chelating concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature. Moreover, thecrystalline phase of Ag nanoparticles is identified by using x-ray diffraction(XRD). In addition, high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) isused to characterize the functional groups on the surface of the MWNTs afterchemical modification through plasma treatment; it demonstrates that thegrowing amount of the Ag nanoparticles on the nanotubes increases with theAg+ chelating concentration due to the blocking effect of the Ag particles forming on theMWNTs.