A low-temperature synthesis of ZnO/ carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

摘要

The self-assembled heterojunctions of ZnO nanoparticles and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were prepared by employing Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O, NaOH as the starting materials in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The MWNT was functionalized via the sol-gel method at ambient pressure and low temperature. The resultant materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transfer infrared spectra (FTIR) measurement. The results revealed intimate contact between the ZnO nanoparticles and MWNT, and that PEG played a significant role in the formation of the ZnO/MWNT nanocomposites. Under mild reaction conditions, ZnO crystallites have a very uniform size distribution and average cross-sectional dimensions of 80-150 nm.