Carbon nanotube deposits and CNT/SiO₂composite coatings by electrophoretic deposition

Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) films have been successfully fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on stainless steel substrates. Electrophoretic deposition was performed using optimised aqueous suspensions under constant voltage conditions. Triton X-100 was used as a surfactant to disperse CNT bundles, and iodine was added as a particle charger. CNT/SiO2 composite coatings were prepared by electrophoretic co-deposition. Experimental results show that the CNTs were efficiently mixed with SiO2 nanoparticles to form a network structure. Layered CNT/SiO2 porous composites were obtained by sequential EPD experiments alternating the deposition of CNT and SiO2 nanoparticles. The structure of all films deposited was studied in detail by scanning electron microscopy. Possible applications of CNT and CNT/SiO2 films are as porous coatings in the biomedical field, thermal management devices, biomedical sensors and other functional applications where the properties of CNTs are required.