Method for making carbon nanotubes with embedded nanoparticles
The invention concerns methods for producing carbon nanotubes with embedded nanoparticles comprising providing a template comprising an anodized aluminum oxide membrane with a pore diameter of 20-200 nm; contacting the template with a solution containing nanoparticles; exposing the template and solution containing nanoparticles to sonication; removing the template from the solution; forming a carbon structure via chemical deposition of carbon on said template; and removing the template by exposing the template to a basic solution.
1. A method for producing carbon nanotubes with embedded nanoparticles comprising the steps conducted in the order:
providing a template comprising an anodized aluminum oxide membrane with a pore diameter of 20-200 nm;
contacting the template with a solution containing nanoparticles;
exposing the template and solution containing nanoparticles to sonication;
separating the template from the solution;
forming a carbon structure via chemical deposition of carbon on said template; and
removing the template by exposing the template to a basic solution.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical deposition of carbon is achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the template is dried after the template is removed from the solution.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the basic solution is aqueous sodium hydroxide.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise gold, iron oxide, or SiC.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the iron oxide comprises Fe 3 O 4 .
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise gold.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise SiC.
9. A method for producing carbon nanotubes with embedded nanoparticles comprising the steps conducted in the order:
providing a template;
contacting the template with a solution containing nanoparticles;
exposing the template and solution containing nanoparticles to sonication;
separating the template from the solution;
forming a carbon structure via chemical deposition of carbon on said template; and
removing the template by exposing the template to chemical treatment.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the template comprises an anodized aluminum oxide membrane with a pore diameter of 20-200 nm and the template is removed via exposure to basic solution.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the chemical deposition of carbon is achieved by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the template is dried after the template is removed from the solution.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the basic solution is aqueous sodium hydroxide.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise gold, iron oxide, or SiC.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the iron oxide comprises Fe 3 O 4 .
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise gold.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise SiC.
18. A method for producing carbon nanotubes with embedded nanoparticles comprising the steps conducted in the order:
providing a template comprising an anodized aluminum oxide membrane with a pore diameter of 20-200 nm;
contacting the template with a solution containing nanoparticles;
exposing the template and solution containing nanoparticles to sonication;
separating the template from the solution;
drying the template;
forming a carbon structure via chemical deposition of carbon on said template; and
removing the template by exposing the template to a basic solution.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise gold, iron oxide, or SiC.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the basic solution is aqueous sodium hydroxide.