Study On The Preparation Of Inorganic Glass Matrices Carbon Nanotubes Doped Composites

For years, Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become the research focus ofphysics, materials, chemistry science, owing to their special structure and excellentproperties. To successfully fulfill the applications in the fields of electronics,mechanical, medicine, energy and chemical engineering, it is important to introduceCNTs into solid state matrix to make them materialization. Up to now, there arereports about dispersing CNTS into polymer, metal and ceramic matrices and it isfound that the matrices'mechanical and electrical properties could be improved afterthe introducing of CNTs. But there are seldom reports about dispersing CNTS intoglass matrix, although it is important for their applications in optical field. In fact,theory calculation shows that CNTs have good non-linearity optical property and itwould be important for the broadening of their application in optical field to disperseCNTs into inorganic matrix to make CNTs glass composites. This paper reviewed the preparation method, properties and potentialapplication of CNTs and their polymer, metal and ceramic composites.Low-temperature-melting and in-situ-growth technique was used respectively for theproduction of CNTs/Lead phosphate glass composites and CNTs/Silica gel glasscomposites. The ideal prescription and processing conditions were pursued. Thecomposition and structure of the resulted composites were carried outcharacterization of Scanning microscope, Transmittance microscope and Infraredspectra. The results show that the low-temperature-melting technique has the benefitsof directness and convenience. Besides, the majority CNTs could be dispersedhomogeneously into the glass matrix. But the adhesion between the doped CNTs andglass matrix is poor and some CNTs agglomerate. The solve this problem,in-situ-growth technique was introduced. The results showed that possible CNTswere obtained after the pre-introducing of acetylacetone as carbon source andnano-ferric -sol as catalyst and heat treatment of the xerogel at 500℃. Thein-situ-growth mechanism of CNTs is discussed to make a good foundation for thesuccessfully preparation of CNTs/Silica gel glass composites.