Synthesis of highly uniform silica-shelled carbon nanotube coaxial fibers from catalytic gas-flow reactions viain situ deposition of silica

Abstract

Masses of highly uniform silica-shelled carbon nanotube (CNT) coaxial fibers are synthesized in a single step by the catalytic gas-flow reaction method. This method involves the generation of CNTs in the gas flow from the injection catalytic gas flow reactions and the in situ deposition of silica over the gas dispersed CNTs via the decomposition of a polysiloxane downstream of the CNT flow. Silicone grease consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as the precursor for silica. The coaxial fibers produced by this process are highly uniform, with each fiber containing a CNT core enclosed in a uniform silica shell. The growth of silica from PDMS over CNTs is efficient, with ∼50 wt% of PDMS converted into silica. The key controlling factor of the growth of the coaxial fibers is the hydrogen flow, which is required for both the growth of CNTs and the formation of silica from the polysiloxanes. The highly localized deposition of silica over the CNTs with the composition of Si/O in silica close to that of PDMS is likely associated to the condensation from Si–O chains decomposed from PDMS. The silica phase of the coaxial fiber resulting from this process is highly oxygen deficient and, as the result, the coaxial fibers emit strong photoluminescence under ultraviolet excitation. Meanwhile, the silica shell phase is highly hydrogenated, which permits the uniform bonding of nanocrystallines on the fibers. The present process provides an effective means to fabricate high quality silica-CNT coaxial fibers for potential functional applications.