The E ffect of S ynthesis Parameters on C rystal S tructure and M orphology of CNT -ZnO H ybrid N anostructures

In this research, Carbon nanotubes-Zinc oxideCNT-ZnO hybrid nanomaterial was prepared by a polyol sol-gel method using zinc acetate ZnCH3COO2.H2O, functionalized CNT with carboxyl COOH group and two kind of solvent; diethylene glycolDEG and glycerolGLY and the effect of three synthesis parameter: kind of solvent, pH of solution and amount of additive water on properties of end-product hybrid was investigated. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy FESEM, Transmission electron microscopyTEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy EDX and X ray diffraction XRD. In synthesis of hybrid structures using diethylene glycol, it was found that by increasing the PH of solution, the average size of ZnO nanoparticles deposited on CNT surfaces dramatically decreases and the number of them increases. Furthermore by increasing the PH of solution the uniformity of ZnO deposition was considerably improved. By changing the solvent and using glycerol a new morphology of hybrid structure was obtained and zinc oxide in form of nanosheets and hexagonal nanocrystal segments attached to the body of CNTs. By increasing the amount of deionized water, hydrolysis reaction and thus deposition of ZnO on CNTs’ body increases.