Effective dispersal of CNTs in the fabrication of electrodeposited nanocomposites

This study addresses the issue of carbon nanotube (CNT) agglomeration during the fabrication of electrodeposited metal-CNT coatings. A new means of assessing dispersion stability of CNTs within a Watts electrolyte via visible light spectrometry is outlined and used to demonstrate the extent of improved dispersibility of CNTs when subjected to a well-known surface modifying acid-treatment. Varying sonication was performed to control the dispersal state of CNTs within the electrolyte during electrodeposition using untreated and acid-treated CNTs. It was found that a Watts electrolyte containing acid-treated CNTs required significantly lower sonication intensity to maintain effective dispersal during electrodeposition, facilitating the fabrication of Ni-CNT coatings containing higher volume fractions of homogenously dispersed CNTs that exhibit superior mechanical properties. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.