Facile and effective aluminium nitride anti-oxidation coating for carbon nanotubes

• A facile strategy for coating carbon nanotubes with aluminium nitride was developed.
• The strategy involved gradual sedimentation and ceramization of the precursor.
• The oxidation resistance of the product was significantly improved.
• The coating mechanism was proposed and verified.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated by aluminium nitride (AlN) via a simple gradual sedimentation and ceramization route. Following a designed sequence, CNTs were coated with aluminium-containing precursor and carbon source, which were dissolved in a mixed solution of isopropanol and toluene; the subsequent pyrolysis and carbothermal nitridation generated AlN layer onto the CNT surface. The coating thickness was tunable from 1 to 2 nm, while maintaining defect free. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the onset oxidizing temperature of the product delayed from 525 to 707 °C, and more than 90% CNTs survived the oxidation. Furthermore, the coating mechanism was proposed and verified.

Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (274 K)Download as PowerPoint slide