Effects of preliminary ion beam treatment of carbon nanotubes on structures of interfaces in ???/multi-walled carbon nanotube (M =Ti,Sn) composites: Experimental and theoretical study

In this study, ion beam treatment was investigated as a method for functionalizing the surfaces of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) employed in the production of composites with titanium and tin oxides using magnetron sputtering. Preliminary ion irradiation of MWCNTs obtained a uniform distribution of metal oxides over their surfaces. According to the experimental results, interfacial adhesion in the composites was increased due to the interactions between metal oxides and oxygen-containing functional groups on the surfaces of the MWCNTs. Quantum chemical calculations demonstrated the possibility of M-O-C bonds (M = Ti, Sn) forming with the participation of C--O groups fixed on the graphene plane near vacancy-type defects. The features of Ti-O-C and Sn-O-C bonds were investigated based on electron density difference analysis and the density of states of the outer electron shells.

Automated summary

Ion beam treatment was used to functionalize the surfaces of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, resulting in a uniform distribution of metal oxides and improved interfacial adhesion in composite materials. M-O-C bonds were found to form between metal oxides and oxygen-containing functional groups on the carbon nanotubes.