Synthesis and Characterization of SiO2-Carbon Nanotube Hybrides Using a Sol-Gel Method

Montakhab, N.; Hassani, S. S.; Rashidi, A.; Aboutalebi, M. R.; Arabi, H.

doi:10.7508/jufgnsm.2012.01.006

Synthesis and Characterization of SiO2-Carbon Nanotube Hybrides Using a Sol-Gel Method

Authors

N. Montakhab ¹

S. S. Hassani ²

A. Rashidi ²

M. R. Aboutalebi ³

H. Arabi ³

¹ School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)

² Nanotechnology Research Center, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry

³ Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Processing (CEAMP), School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST)

10.7508/jufgnsm.2012.01.006

Abstract

This work is focused on synthesis of SiO2- CNT hybrides via sol-gel method. Homogeneous distribution of
carbon nanotubes within silicon matrix was obtained by mixing the functionalized carbon nanotube (CNTCOOH)
with active silicic acid followed by titration to the solution of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) under the
average temperature condition of 80?C. Different ratios of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and various
concentrations of colloidal silica were used for synthesis of SiO2-CNT. Powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) used for studying the structure and morphological characteristics
of the synthesized SiO2-CNT hybrids. The results showed that the various morphologies of SiO2-CNTs are
obtained with different ratio of precursors. The SEM images indicated the formation of uniform
nanoparticles, nanowires and nanotube structures in various samples. In addition, the hydrogen storage
capacity and thermal conductivity of SiO2-CNT hybrides were determined and presented in this article. Also
total pore volume and BET surface area were calculated for these composites.

Keywords

BET surface area

crystal size

hydrogen storage capacity

Morphology

nanohybride

SiO2-CNT

thermal conductivity