Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle‐decorated Single‐walled Carbon Nanotube Films

Abstract

We prepared single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films decorated by various silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) concentrations. Typical SEM photographs of Ag‐NP/SWCNT films decorated by a 1.0wt% Ag NP concentration indicated that Ag NPs with a 10‐nm diameter attached to the surface of nanotube bundles, and the number of Ag NPs attached to the nanotubes was roughly 40∼60 particles/µm. After annealing at 723 K under nitrogen gas, sintered Ag particles covered the nanotube bundles all over the film in 1.0wt% Ag‐NP/SWCNT films. The in‐plane electrical conductivities of films had a tendency to increase with increasing Ag NP concentration, from 2.55×103 to 5.06×103 S/m.