Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Coatings Using Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD)

• Published in: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Vol. 88; no. 4; pp. 980 - 982
• Main Authors: Thomas, B. J. C., Boccaccini, A. R., Shaffer, M. S. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Inc 01-04-2005; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon; Chemical vapor deposition; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Microstructure; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Physics; Protective coatings; Stainless steel; Substrates; Fabrication; Scanning electron microscopy; Coating material; Carbon nanotubes; Experimental study; Carbon; Stainless steels; Coated material; Growth from solution; Electrophoretic deposition
• ISSN: 0002-7820; 1551-2916
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00155.x

A method based on electrophoretic deposition (EPD) has been developed to produce uniform deposits of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes on stainless‐steel substrates. Aqueous suspensions were used under constant voltage conditions in the range of 5–50 V, with deposition times ranging from 0.5 to 10 min. The thickness of the coatings was controlled by variation of voltage and deposition time during EPD. Coatings of up to 10 μm thickness were achieved, with a homogeneous microstructure. The EPD technique is fast, effective, and can be applied to complex shapes. Possible applications are in heat extraction devices or porous coatings for tissue engineering scaffolds.