A new approach to synthesis of free-standing ZnO/MWCNT Nanocomposites by Vacuum In-ltration

Abstract

In this study, free-standing zincoxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposite was synthesized by a mul-tistep technique. Buckypapers having controlled porosity were prepared by vacuum filtration from oxidized mul-tiwalled carbon nanotubes. Zinc acetate dihydrate (ZnAc) (Zn(CH 3COO)2-2H2O) was used as zinc source and ethanol used as solvent. An appropriate amount of monoethanolamine was added to sol to change acid-base me-dia. The solution was vacuum filtered through buckypaper and annealed at 350°C in air. It was found that the zinc oxide grows around the multiwalled carbon nanotubes to form a uniform composite. Morphology of zine ox-ide/multiwalled carbon nanotube was also studied in detail. Nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.