Attaching Titania Nanoparticles onto Shortened Carbon Nanotubes by Electrostatic Attraction

摘要

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be electronically conducting or semiconducting, and they are lightweight and have high stability. TiO_2 has been studied for applications in optics, microelectronics, and photocatalysis. Hybrid CNTs/TiO_2 shows unique photocatalytic and electrical properties for enhanced performances as solar cell electrode, sensors, and catalysts. This study is focused on shortening multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) and attaching TiO_2 nanoparticles onto MWCNTs by electrostatic attraction. A mechanical and chemical hybrid method is used to tailor CNT length. Opposite ζ-potentials are achieved for CNT and TiO_2 nanoparticle suspensions under the same pH. TiO_2 nanoparticles are attached onto CNTs for surface modification by electrostatic attraction.