Low temperature synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes via a sonochemical/hydrothermal method

In this investigation, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been prepared by a facile sonochemical/hydrothermal method. MWCNTs have been hydrothermally fabricated with using dichloromethane, cobalt chloride and metallic lithium as starting materials in 5 mol/lit NaOH aqueous solution. Ultrasonic pre-treatment of the solution mixture had an important step prior to the hydrothermal condition, which could generate a considerable amount of multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the subsequent hydrothermal growth. Finally, high pure MWCNTs with lengths of 2-5 mu m and diameters of 60 +/- 20nm could be synthesized at as low temperature as 160 degrees C. As a matter of fact, the method of sonochemical/ hydrothermal guarantees the production of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for different applications, especially reinforcement materials. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.