Multi-walled carbon nanotubes supported Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles and their optical property

C S Chen,J C Kuang,T G Liu,S Y Cao,L J Lu,L W Lin,X D Xie,X L Xie

doi:10.1007/s11051-012-0817-5

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/Cu-doped ZnO composite powders were prepared by co-precipitation method, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, fluorescence spectrum, and ultraviolet spectrum. Experimental results show that the MWNTs can be modified by Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles with hexagonal wurtzite structure after annealed at 450 °C, and the nanoparticle size is about 15 nm. Two ultraviolet (UV) peaks and a green band centered at about 510 nm are observed in the fluorescence spectrum of MWNTs/Cu-doped ZnO composite powder annealed at 450 °C. Furthermore, MWNTs and Cu doping significantly improve the UV absorption ability of ZnO.

Highlights

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide direct band gap (3.37 eV at room temperature) semiconductor and possesses superior intrinsic properties such as a large exciton binding energy of 60 meV at room temperature, high photocatalytic activity, low cost, and environmentally friendly
The endothermic peak at 123 °C might stem from the loss of crystalloid water and ethyl acetate, and that at 395 °C is attributed to the decomposition of oxalic
It reveals the presence of Zn, Cu, O, and C, which indicates that the surfaces of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are decorated by Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles, consistent with the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD)

Summary

Introduction

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a wide direct band gap (3.37 eV at room temperature) semiconductor and possesses superior intrinsic properties such as a large exciton binding energy of 60 meV at room temperature, high photocatalytic activity, low cost, and environmentally friendly. Abstract Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/ Cu-doped ZnO composite powders were prepared by co-precipitation method, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, fluorescence spectrum, and ultraviolet spectrum.

Results

Conclusion