Formation of bamboo-like conducting carbon nanotubes decorated with Au nanoparticles by the thermal decomposition of sucrose in an AAO template

An easy method is reported for the preparation of bamboo-like conducting carbon nanotubes decorated with Au nanoparticles (Au-CNT), by carbonization of sucrose inside of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanochannels (∼80 nm and ∼30 μm in diameter and length, respectively). First, the AAO membrane nanochannels were coated with Au nanoparticles (∼10 nm in diameter) and the carbon nanotubes were then formed in the same channels below 973 K. Electron microscopy shows long bamboo-like carbon nanotubes, ∼30 μm in length, decorated with crystalline gold nanoparticles, ∼50 nm in diameter. The coalescence of the precoated small Au nanoparticles inside the channel results in the attached large Au nanoparticles. The apparent resistivity of the Au-CNT prepared at 973 K, was ∼16.8 Ω cm. The electrical conductivity of the structure is discussed with relation to electrochemical and micro Raman experiments.