Low temperature synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes via a sonochemical/hydrothermal method

Abstract

In this investigation, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been prepared by a facile sonochemical/hydrothermal method. MWCNTs have been hydrothermally fabricated with using dichloromethane, cobalt chloride and metallic lithium as starting materials in 5 mol/lit NaOH aqueous solution. Ultrasonic pre-treatment of the solution mixture had an important step prior to the hydrothermal condition, which could generate a considerable amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the subsequent hydrothermal growth. Finally, high pure MWCNTs with lengths of 2–5 μm and diameters of 60 ± 20 nm could be synthesized at as low temperature as 160 °C. As a matter of fact, the method of sonochemical/hydrothermal guarantees the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for different applications, especially reinforcement materials.