Abstract
In this research, MWCNT–ZnO hybrid nanomaterials were synthesized by a simple sol–gel process using Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O and functionalized MWCNT with carboxyl(COOH) and hydroxyl(OH) groups. Three different mass ratios of MWCNT:ZnO = 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3 were examined. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Successful growth of MWCNT–ZnO hybrids for both COOH and OH functional groups and all the three mass ratios were obtained. The ZnO nanoparticles attached on the surfaces of CNTs have rather spherical shapes and hexagonal crystal structure. By increasing the concentration of ZnO, the number and average size of ZnO nanoparticles decorated the body of CNTs in hybrid structures increase. By increasing the ZnO precursor, the distribution of ZnO nanoparticles that appeared on the surface of CNTs becomes more uniform. The SEM observation beside EDX analysis revealed that at the same concentration ratio the amount of ZnO loading on the surface of MWCNT-COOH is more than MWCNT-OH. Moreover, the average size of ZnO nanoparticles attached on the surface of COOH functionalized CNTs is relatively smaller than that of OH functionalized ones.
Highlights
Because of their unique physical and chemical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be excellent candidates for many potential applications such as nanocomposite materials, nanoelectronics, catalysis and sensors [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
The prepared nanomaterials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) with COOH and OH functional groups zinc acetate [Zn(CH3COO)2Á2H2O supplied by Merck], diethylene glycol (DEG, C4H10O3 supplied by Merck), absolute ethanol (Merck) and deionized water were used as reactants
Summary
Because of their unique physical and chemical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered to be excellent candidates for many potential applications such as nanocomposite materials, nanoelectronics, catalysis and sensors [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. ZnO has remarkable physical and chemical properties including nontoxic nature, low cost, high optical activity and stability, high sensitivity of UV–Vis light and high thermal and mechanical stability at room temperature [12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21] These properties revealed that the ZnO is a useful material in electronics, optics, photonics, room temperature UV lasers, light emitting diodes and sensors [10,11,12,13, 20, 22]. Dependence of the size, abundance, and distribution of ZnO particles on CNT:ZnO mass ratio was clearly evidenced
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