A Simple method to prepare multi-walled carbon nanotube/ZnO nanoparticle composites

A multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/ZnO nanoparticle composite is fabricated by the thermal decomposition of a mixture of Zn(NH3)4CO3, MWCNTs and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). From the infrared spectra of dried samples of Zn(NH3)4CO3, PVP, and the mixture of Zn(NH3)4CO3 and PVP, we show that there is a coordination interaction between the Zn of Zn(NH3)4CO3 and the carbonyl of PVP. Thermal decomposition of the mixture of Zn(NH3)4CO3 and PVP with MWCNTs results in the decomposition of Zn(NH3)4CO3 to ZnO nanoparticles which are well-dispersed on the outer walls of the MWCNTs. The results show that PVP can be used to control the ZnO nanoparticle size and its dispersion on the MWCNTs walls during decomposition. This method is favorable for large scale synthesis.