Gold Nanoparticles Decorating Carbon Nanotubes toward Organic Solar Cells

Abstract

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using iron oxides as catalysts. The resulted MWCNTs were oxidized by nitric acid to form functionalized MWCNTs with carboxylic acid function groups (-COOH). Also, we synthesized 20 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by reducing Hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (HAuCl4) using citrates solution. The resultant AuNPs were coated with anionic species of citrate ions as the dispersant. By electrostatic interaction, the MWCNTs-COOH could be successfully coated with about 20 nm gold nanoparticles. Transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the morphology MWNTs, AuNPs and the resultant MWCNTs decorated gold nanoparticles.