Preparation of carbon nanotube–neodymium oxide composite and research on its catalytic performance

Carbon Nanotube–Neodymium Oxide (CNT–Nd2O3) composite was prepared by using acid treated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and neodymium nitrate in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and ammonia liquid. Techniques of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) are used to characterize the morphology, structure, composition and catalytic property of the CNT–Nd2O3 composite. The experimental results show that the Nd2O3 nanoparticles, which have an average diameter of about 30–40 nm, are loaded on the surface of carbon nanotube. Compared with pure Nd2O3 nanorods, the CNT–Nd2O3 composite can catalyze the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate more effectively. The sampling methods of the experimental samples made a difference on the catalytic experiment results, and the best catalytic result was obtained when de-ionized water served as the solvent of ammonium perchlorate.