Electroless plating of metals onto carbon nanotubes activated by a single-step activation method

Abstract

In this work, carbon nanotubes were activated with Pd-Sn catalytic nuclei via a single-step activation approach. These activated nanotubes were used as precursors for obtaining nickel- and palladium-decorated nanotubes via electroless plating. Activation of the nanotube surfaces promoted specific deposition of metal on the catalytic tube surfaces. As a result, carbon nanotubes densely coated with metal nanoparticles were obtained with reduced metal deposition in the reaction solution. © 1999 American Chemical Society.