Electroless deposition of silver nano particles on Thionyl Chloride and Hydrazine Monohydrate treated multi walled carbon nano tubes

Abstract

Electroless deposition of silver nano particles (Ag-NPs) on Thionyl Chloride and Hydrazine Monohydrate treated multi walled carbon nano tubes (MWCNTS) was meticulously studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and x ray diffraction (XRD). The attachment of carboxyl and hydroxyl group with MWCNTs as result of oxidation in H2SO4 and HNO3 solution was confirmed by FTIR. Oxidized MWCNTs were treated first in Thionyl chloride and then in Hydrazine Monohydrate followed by Ag-NPs deposition. SEM revealed that pristine MWCNTs were present in both single and clusters of CNTs. While 25 nm sized Ag-NPs were deposited consistently and homogenously on MWCNTs with minute very thin coated portions. X ray diffraction pattern showed that pristine MWCNTs have lattice spacing of 0.3462 nm while after deposition of Ag-NPs, lattice spacing increased to maximum value 2.359 nm. This methodology was found to be more efficient to achieve densely decorated MWCNTs without the risk of heterogeneous element impurities; which otherwise are introduced.