Synthesis and characterization of vertically aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) coated with silver thin films

Due to the unique circumstances and characteristics of carbon nanotubes and properties of silver, Ag/MWCNT can be a good promising hybrid metal containing material in the field of composites. To this end, we synthesized Vertical Aligned Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNT) using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) on silicon wafer through a thin nickel catalyst layer at a temperature of 650 degrees C. Silver Nano layers were deposited on the surfaces of VA-MWCNTs via DC-magnetron sputtering with thicknesses of 20, 35, 60, 85 and 100 nm. Formation of silver layers on the surfaces of carbon nanotubes can attribute to different fundamental to industrial applications such as increasing antibacterial activity and biosensors. Influence of different growth conditions on the structure and composition of these layers were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray diffraction, respectively.