Microcrystalline composite particles of carbon nanotubes and calcium carbonate

Langmuir. 2008 Apr 1;24(7):3479-85. doi: 10.1021/la7026797. Epub 2008 Feb 15.

Abstract

Coprecipitation of urea-melt modified carbon nanotubes and calcium carbonate from an aqueous solution by two methods yielded microcrystalline composite particles. Powders obtained by colloidal crystallization from a supersaturated solution that were isolated and dried soon after precipitation were a mixture of raspberry-shaped and rhombohedral particles. These were shown by infrared and X-ray diffraction analyses to be mainly calcite. Particles that were kept wet for 1 day or longer before being isolated were typically entirely rhombohedral with edge lengths in the range of 5-30 microm. Scanning electron microscopy investigations revealed that the nanotubes were adsorbed on the particle surface and also incorporated into the interior matrix. Removal of the calcium carbonate component by treating the particles with acid yielded nanotube shells whose size and shape reflected those of the original particles.

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Carbonate / chemistry*
  • Chemical Precipitation
  • Crystallization
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Calcium Carbonate