Synthesis of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on carbon fiber

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 271; pp. 424 - 428
• Main Authors: Rahmanian, S., Suraya, A.R., Zahari, R., Zainudin, E.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-04-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Carbon fiber; Carbon nanotube; Chemical vapor deposition; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Physics; Vertically aligned morphology; Carbon nanotube; Vertically aligned morphology; Chemical vapor deposition; Carbon fiber; CVD; Carbon fibers; Carbon nanotubes; Film growth
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.01.207

► Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes were synthesized on the surface of carbon fiber. ► Compact and adhesive coating of catalyst on carbon fiber was achieved without the application of additional pre-deposited substrate. ► Acid treatment, ultrasonic assisted catalyst-dip coating and calcination were the main steps, which provided appropriate catalyst coating. ► Two types of solvent, acetone and ethanol, were examined in dip coating step and acetone was found more effective to produce dense catalyst coating.
In spite of several researches to synthesize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on carbon fiber (CF), most have obtained entangled nanotubes versus the aligned form. In this study, by controlling catalyst coating technique, vertically aligned CNT were grown on CF through chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Activated fiber surface originated from acid treatment, compact coverage of catalyst precursor via applying ultrasonication in appropriate solvent, followed by calcinating were effective parameters which resulted in growing bundles and vertically aligned CNT on CF. Ethanol and acetone were examined as solvent thereby spot catalyst coating was created from the former while film coverage produced from the later and resulted in distinctive CNT morphology.