In-Situ Growth Of Silver Nanowires/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes And Its Application Research

Currently nanotube/metal composite materials are widely used in many fields. A facile approach to synthesis a composite by in-situ growth of silver nanowires on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was proposed. In the composite, between MWCNTs and silver nanowires was connected by chemical bonds. So the contact resistance between the two could be reduced greatly and the conductivity of the composite could be improved. Finally, the composite could exhibit more excellent performance in the application areas.In order to obtain optimal reaction conditions for the preparation of thin silver nanowires, a systematic study of reaction conditions for the method of polyols to synthesis silver nanowires was done. The optical properties, crystallization behavior, morphology and thermal stability of silver nanowires were measured by UV-visible extinction spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, electron microscope and thermal gravimetric analyzer. The changes of optical properties and morphology in the growth process of silver nanowires were studied, and the growth theory of silver nanowires was analyzed.MWCNTs were treated with acid and functional groups (hydroxyl and carboxyl) were introduced onto the surface of MWNTs. So the reactivity of MWCNTs was improved. Thioglycolic acid was reacted with hydroxyl groups on acid treated MWCNTs to fix thiol groups on the surface of MWCNTs. Then platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were formatted by reducing chloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6) with ethylene glycol (EG), and stabilized on MWCNTs by the coordinate bond between Pt nanoparticles and thiol groups. In the presence of AgNO3and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)(PVP), these Pt nanoparticles could serve as the seeds to generate AgNWs with uniform diameter. Finally, silver nanowires could synthesized on the surface of MWCNTs through the method of in-situ growth.The performance and structural analysis of silver nanowires/MWCNTs indicated that a variety of ways to form the conductive network between silver nanowires and MWCNTs. Because of the chemical bond between MWCNTs and silver nanowires, the contact resistance was reduced and the conductivity was improved, greatly. Furthermore, the obtained composite was coated on polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) film to prepare thin film through the method of drop-coating, at room temperature. The thin film showed good flexibility, transparency and conductivity, and had the potential to the transparent electrode.