Study on Au nanoparticles, TiO_2 nanoclusters, and SiO_2 nanoshells coated multi-wall carbon nanotubes/silica gel-glass

摘要

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with crystalline Au nanoparticles, TiO_2 nanoclusters, and amorphous SiO_2 nanoshells, to represent conductors, semiconductors, and insulators, respectively, were embedded in transparent silica gel-glass. The coated MWCNT/silica gel-glasses were prepared by the sol-gel technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV/Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and pore structure measurements were used to investigate the morphology, structure, and texture properties of the coated MWCNT/silica gel-glasses. The hardness and elastic modulus of the silica gel-glasses were characterized using a Nanoindenter and found to depend on the coating materials. Coating the MWCNTs with crystalline Au nanoparticles, TiO_2 nanoclusters, and amorphous SiO_2 nanoshells leads to an increase in the hardness and elastic modulus, despite the higher specific surface area and pore volume of the coated MWCNT/silica gel-glasses. Consequently, we can conclude that the mechanical properties of coated MWCNT/silica gel-glass might be greatly dependent on the guest MWCNTs rather than the silica gel matrix.