Synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes/silica composites using gum arabic

Silica-coated carbon nanotube has been synthesized through a variety of experimental techniques. In this work, we present results of a route of synthesis for multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Silica composites and Silica. This technique involves a reaction of carbon nanotubes dispersed using Gum Arabic with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), Si (OC2H5)(4) in solution of ethanol, with NH4OH as catalyst. Characterization ofx-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and scanning/transmission electronic microscopy confirmed the MWCNTs/Silica composite synthesis. In this methodology, acids were not used for functionalizing the surface of the carbon nanotubes. We also studied the composite thermal stability. The results of this paper suggest that our methodology can be used to develop less expensive electronic devices such as sensors, biosensors, capacitors, etc. Additionally, our methodology is easy to operate.