Processing and Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes Decorated with Pure Electroless Nickel and their Magnetic Properties

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In order to obtain a new functional nanomaterial with good magnetic properties, a low cost electroless deposition method was utilized to decorate multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with pure Ni. In the present study, an inert surface of nanotubes was activated by introducing catalytic nuclei through a two-step sensitization-activation approach. The nanotubes and their coating were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), X-ray diffractometry(XRD), transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM). The experimental results showed that multi-walled carbon nanotubes were encapsulated with metallic catalyst and have good particle size. The agglomerated and tangled MWCNTs contain little catalytic impurities. The surface morphologies of coated carbon nanotubes exhibited pure nickel nanoparticles surrounding on bundles of tubes. Magnetic behavior of Ni coated MWCNTs showed ferromagnetism with improved saturation magnetization as compared to pristine MWCNTs. The as coated MWCNTs can be considered as reinforcing nanomaterial in developing composites by aligning them under very low magnetic field.