SYNTHESIS AND THERMO GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS OF NICKEL FILLED CARBON NANOTUBE

Abstract

The aim of the project was to optimize the growth of Ni-encapsulated carbon nanotubes using thermal CVD and to make thero gravimetric analysis to find thermal stability and activation energies. Thermal chemical vapor deposition method was used as the synthesis route, with appropriate selection of precursors. In order to synthesize good quality of Niencapsulated carbon nanotubes, the synthesis conditions have been optimized to achieve the desired reproducible growth with large yield. The standard characterization techniques confirmed the quality and characteristics of the as-synthesized sample. A comparative TGA, DTG, and DSC studies of Ni-filled MWCNTs have been made for different heating rates. Ni-filled MWCNTs are found to have high thermal stability and high resistance to oxidation. The calculation of activation energy by adopting the Kissinger’s Corrected kineticequation has been observed more accurately as compared to differential method. The detailed analysis of thermalstability and reactivity reveals that as-grown Ni-filled MWCNT have high purity and degree of graphitization A comparative DSC studyreveals that only the oxidation of Ni-filled MWCNT is endothermic.