PREPARATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED MWCNTs COATING WITH MgO VIA SIMPLE PRECIPITATION METHOD

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were coated with MgO nanoparticles using simple precipitation method. The nanometer-sized Mg(OH)(2) particles were precipitated on the surface of functionalized MWCNTs by reaction between MgSO4 solution and NH4OH as an alkaline agent. The growth of Mg(OH)(2) particles was controlled by adjusting the alkaline concentration, salt concentration and feed rate in simple precipitation method. The samples have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TG). The results showed a nominally complete coating over the entire outer surface of MWCNTs and the oxidation resistance of MWCNTs was improved by the MgO coating significantly.