Influence of various plasma treatment on the properties of carbon nanotubes for composite applications

In present work, the effects of hydrogen and oxygen plasma treatments on the structural properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesized by catalytic CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) have been systematically investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the microstructural changes of the CNTs. The oxygen plasma treatment resulted in that the nanoparticles were appeared at the surface of CNTs. At high r.f. power (300 Watt), the microstructure of CNT was changed from nanotube type to nano particles. Long plasma treatment time changed the CNT morphology dramatically. For hydrogen plasma, however, there was no change in microstructure of CNT. From the Raman analysis, the crystallinity of CNT was deteriorated by the plasma treatment, regardless of plasma power, treatment time, and gas types. The CNTs treated in oxygen plasma for 90 min showed excellent dispersion properties in aqueous solution.