Chemical functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by coating with titanium

In this study, we investigated the effect of coating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with titanium using chemical vapor deposition. This coating process was carried out in a quartz tube, which was heated in a tubular furnace at 600 degrees C with an argon/hydrogen gas flow mixture; argon was bubbled through liquid TiCl4 for 1h. Under these conditions the weight of the MWNTs was found to increase by about 3.5%. Characterization of the chemically treated MWNTs was achieved using Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The presence of titanium was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The functional properties of the Ti-coated MWNTs have been proved by the fabrication of aluminium based composites. Significant reinforcement of the extruded composites indicates strong interfacial bonding to the aluminium matrix. (C) 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim