Synthesis of carbon nanotube-ceramic nanocomposites by spray pyrolysis and evaluation of mechanical and electrical properties

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) was incorporated with titania to improve photocatalytic activity and coated with silica as reinforcement filler in polymer. MWNT-titania nanocomposite was synthesized by spray pyrolysis at $800^\circ C$ under $N_2$ atmosphere and adsorptive and photocatalytic properties were evaluated by measuring the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) under irradiation of UV lamp. MWNT was effective for adsorption of MB and improvement of photoactivity. However, it is not conclusive that this activity improvement results from the reduction of recombination of hole and electron. MWNT was coated with silica by sol-gel method and spray pyrolysized to prepare composite powder. This powder is mixed with viscous polymer resin. Silica on the surface of MWNT played the role of diminishing van der Waals interaction force and prevented MWNT from bundling in polyester. When polyester was blended with silica-coated MWNT nanocomposite its young’s modulus was increased. Bare MWNT blended with polyester did not serve as reinforcement filler because of heavy agglomeration of MWNT.