Chemical functionalization of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes by coating with titanium

Abstract

Abstract In this study, we investigated the effect of coating multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with titanium using chemical vapor deposition. This coating process was carried out in a quartz tube, which was heated in a tubular furnace at 600 °C with an argon/hydrogen gas flow mixture; argon was bubbled through liquid TiCl 4 for 1h. Under these conditions the weight of the MWNTs was found to increase by about 3.5%. Characterization of the chemically treated MWNTs was achieved using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The presence of titanium was confirmed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. The functional properties of the Ti‐coated MWNTs have been proved by the fabrication of aluminium based composites. Significant reinforcement of the extruded composites indicates strong interfacial bonding to the aluminium matrix.