Journal of Nanomaterials
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 679049, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/679049

Research Article

Preparation of Nickel-Copper Bilayers Coated on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Zhong Zheng,¹ Shan Zhao,¹ Shijie Dong,¹ Lianjie Li,¹ Anchun Xiao,² and Sinian Li¹

¹Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
²School of Science, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China

Received 31 December 2014; Accepted 18 February 2015

Academic Editor: Stefano Bellucci

Copyright © 2015 Zhong Zheng et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Due to oxidizability of copper coating on carbon nanotubes, the interfacial bond strength between copper coating and its matrix is weak, which leads to the reduction of the macroscopic properties of copper matrix composite. The electroless coating technics was applied to prepare nickel-copper bilayers coated on single-walled carbon nanotubes. The coated single-walled carbon nanotubes were characterized through transmission electron microscope spectroscopy, field-emission electron microscope spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results demonstrated that the nickel-copper bilayers coated on single-walled carbon nanotubes possessed higher purity of unoxidized copper fine-grains than copper monolayers.

1. Introduction

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are composed of quasi circular tubes with unique polygonal carbon-ring microstructural units. Carbon atoms in CNTs skeleton are linked together by sp² hybrid C=C covalent bonds. And they have excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical performance [1, 2], as well as high structural and chemical stability. They have potential value in many areas such as nanoelectricals, structural and functional composite materials [3–9]. CNTs can be classified into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) according to the numbers of their graphene layers. The coaxial layers of MWCNTs are among several layers to dozens of layers. They are easy to bridge among adjacent walls and full of small hole-defects. SWCNTs consist of a single cylindrical graphite sheet with fewer defects. The calculated thermal conductivity of MWCNTs is about 3000 W/mK, while that of SWCNT is larger than 4000 W/mK [10–12]. Therefore, SWCNTs are more appropriate for preparation of composites with high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity through the use of CNTs as strengthening phase.

Both the wettability and bonding strength of interfaces between copper matrix and CNTs are weak. Both physicochemical properties of interface regions, such as elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, linear expansion coefficient, and thermodynamic parameters, are discontinuous. The discontinuousness leads to reduction of electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion composites, stress distribution, strain distribution, and load transfer.

Some methods such as coarsening phase surfaces, addition of alloying elements, and interlayers deposition are utilized to improve interfacial bond strength [13, 14]. The coarsening phase surfaces and addition of alloying elements could destroy SWCNTs or introduce impurities. The methods of depositing interlayers include electroless coating, sol-gel technology [15, 16], chemical vapor deposition (CVD) [17, 18], and physical vapor deposition (PVD) [19, 20]. Sol-gel technology, CVD, and PVD are dependent on expensive equipment. An adhesion layer must be fabricated before using CVD or PVD to deposit copper because of the poor adhesion of copper. That process is complex. Electroless coating process features easy operation, high stability, and reliability with simple equipment. Homogeneousness and deepening of coating can be obtained without damage of substrate. Therefore, the electroless coating method is often applied to prepare copper layers on the surface of CNTs. For instance, Daoush et al. [3] and Khaleghi et al. [9] prepared copper coating on the surface of SWCNTs through electroless plating process successfully.

However, due to high oxygen affinity of copper, the coating is prone to be oxidized and to exist in forms of copper oxides during the process of electroless coating, preparing composites, heating, and storage. Copper oxides coating on SWCNTs can be applied to the catalytic effect, such as photocatalytic degradation [21], water splitting [22], and gas sensing applications [23]. Nevertheless, they would decrease the performance of copper coating in electrical and thermal conductivity and the bonding strength of interfaces between SWCNTs and copper matrix.

Aiming at the problems mentioned above, some heat treatments have been adopted to reduce copper oxides into pure copper of coating under reducing atmosphere [24, 25]. Xue-xi Zhang et al. disclosed a preparation method in Chinese Invention Patent entitled “The Preparation Method of Carbon Nanotubes-Copper Oxide Composite Powder” [24]. They coated CNTs with copper oxides (CuO and Cu₂O) through electroless plating process, then reduced sedimentary copper oxides into pure copper, and crystallized them simultaneously in hydrogen atmosphere at 200°C. The obtained pure copper coating was continuous and uniform with appropriate thickness. However, the technique needs to flux flammable and explosive gas, such as hydrogen, which is difficult to be controlled.

At present, few related researches on oxidation of the electroless copper coating on SWCNTs were reported. Jinmei Wang [26] compared electroless copper coating with nickel coating and Ni-Cu composite coating on the surface of CNTs. Wang found that the high-temperature resistance and oxidation resistance of Ni-Cu composite coating lie between those of the copper coating and nickel coating. In addition, Kiani [27] deposited copper and nickel onto the carbon fiber surface through electroless coating and examined the mechanisms of high-temperature oxidation of copper and nickel-coated carbon fibers. Kiani found that copper coating reduced the temperature of the fiber oxidation, and nickel coating increased the minimum temperature needed for this oxidation reaction. Uncoated and copper-coated fiber oxidation gives rise to CO₂. However, the oxidation of nickel-coated fibers produces CO, because of the protective nature of the oxidized nickel coating, which limits oxygen access to the carbon fibers.

To improve the oxidizability of copper coating on SWCNTs, the three-step-refluxing purified SWCNTs were deposited with nickel through electroless coating at first and then deposited copper. The morphologies, structure, and composition distribution of electroless coating on SWCNTs were determined by some modern analytical techniques and characteristic methods. The Ni-Cu bilayers on SWCNTs possessed unoxidized copper with high electrical and thermal conductivity which could bond SWCNTs to copper matrix firmly. Therefore, the Ni-Cu bilayers on SWCNTs were suitable for the application in copper matrix composite to achieve desirable macroeconomic performance of composite.

2. Experimental

SWCNTs synthesized through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were obtained from Chengdu Organic Chemicals Co., Ltd., Chinese Academy of Sciences. Analytical reagents, such as nitric acid, NiSO₄6H₂O, CuSO₄5H₂O, and C₂H₂O₃, were commercially available. A CS-OY-CQ30 probe ultrasonic generator was employed to disperse SWCNTs before purification (Beijing Heng Odd Instrument Co., Ltd.). A VOSHIN96-IIL bath ultrasonic generator was used to disperse SWCNTs during electroless plating (Wuxi Voshin Instrument Co., Ltd.). Samples were filtered by 0.45 µm Millipore filters.

The samples were characterized through a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM, Quanta 450) equipped with an energy dispersive spectroscopy analyzer (EDS, SUPRA 55 SAPPHIRE), a transmission electron microscope (TEM, HITACHIH-7000FA), and an X-ray diffractometer (XRD, XD-2). To evaluate the samples, thermogravimetric analysis was conducted in airflow with a heating rate of 10°Cmin⁻¹ using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA, SDT Q600).

The detailed experimental procedures are presented as follows.

2.1. Surfactant-Aided Ultrasonic Dispersion

SWCNTs have large aspect ratio and high polarizability. Electrostatic attraction and van der Waals forces among them lead to agglomeration and their easy tangling. The energy induced through ultrasonic vibrations at a high frequency enables matted SWCNTs to overcome these interactions. In particular probe-type ultrasonicators (their ultrasonic tips can deliver more energy to SWCNTs) and their dispersion effect were better than those of ultrasonic baths at the same frequency [28]. In addition, the exploration of dispersion mechanism has shown that stacking interaction formed through surfactants adsorbed on the surface of SWCNTs is stronger than interaction among SWCNTs [29].

Therefore, probe-type ultrasonication has been employed for surfactant-aided dispersion of SWNTs into a solution in the study.

A 0.025 w/v% of initial SWCNTs was dispersed in a 0.35 w/v% SDBS aqueous solution through ultrasonication for 30 min. The ultrasonic dispersion employs a probe ultrasonic generator with a frequency of 35 kHz and a power of 60 W, and it stands for 5 s after ultrasonic treatment for 5 s in each 10 s cycle.

2.2. Refluxing Purification

Commercial SWCNTs synthesized by CVD contain some nanometer impurities including Fe catalyst particles, amorphous carbon, and graphite flakes. These impurities could barrier coating and modify the excellent performance of SWCNTs. Thus they must be removed from the samples before electroless coating.

More mild conditions were chosen during purifying to prevent damage or loss of SWCNTs. The complete purification procedure had three steps. The first one was refluxing a 0.035 w/v% SWCNTs solution in 6 M nitric acid at 118°C for 5 h, followed by deionized water washing; the second one was refluxing in 6 M sodium hydroxide at 118°C for 3 h, followed by deionized water washing; and the third one was refluxing in 6 M hydrochloric acid at 118°C for 3 h, followed by deionized water washing. Finally, the sample was dried under vacuum for 3 h at 80°C.

2.3. Sensitization and Activation

It is very difficult for metals or compounds to deposit on the surface of SWCNTs because of the inherent hydrophobicity and low chemical activity of SWCNTs [30]. So the surface of the SWCNTs must be activated to form catalytic nuclei at first. These nuclei then initiate the redox reaction to make metals deposit and grow up on it. And then continuous coating was obtained.

The detailed procedures are as follows. A 0.025 w/v% of purified SWCNTs was activated in an aqueous solution of 0.1 M SnCl₂/0.1 M HCl through ultrasonic dispersion for 10 min, followed by deionized water washing. Then it was sensitized in an aqueous solution of 0.014 M PdCl₂/0.25 M HCl through ultrasonic dispersion for 8 min, followed by deionized water washing.

2.4. Ni-Cu Electroless Plating

A 0.03 w/v% of activated SWCNTs was dispersed in an electroless nickel plating bath (composition as shown in Table 1, pH = 8.5) through ultrasonication at 25°C for 15 min, followed by deionized water washing.

Table 1: Composition of nickel electroless plating bath.

Chemical
NiSO₄·6H₂O
NaH₂PO₂
Na₃C₆H₅O₇
NH₄Cl

Concentration/
(mol·L⁻¹)
0.13
0.18
0.19
0.56

Then it was dispersed in an electroless copper plating bath (composition as shown in Table 2, pH = 11.5) through ultrasonication at 30°C for 25 min, followed by deionized water washing. Finally, the sample was dried under vacuum for 3 h at room temperature.

Table 2: Composition of copper electroless plating bath.

Chemical
CuSO₄·5H₂O
C₂H₂O₃
EDTANa₂
NaKC₄H₄O₆·4H₂O
2,2′-Bipyridine

Concentration/(mol·L⁻¹)
0.03
0.2
0.24
0.05
10 (mg·L⁻¹)

2.5. Electroless Copper Coating

For comparison, SWCNTs were deposited with copper only through the aforementioned electroless coating process.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. TEM Analysis

The samples for TEM were prepared through dropping the ethanol suspension of SWCNTs onto a grid which was left to air-dry. TEM images before and after purification (see Figure 1) show clearly the effectiveness of our three-step-refluxing purification processes. TEM image of initial sample (see Figure 1(a)) clearly shows entangled SWCNTs bundles in a mixture with metal nanoparticles (black dots), amorphous carbon encasing metal particles, and free graphite particles. The SWCNTs are typically ~6 nm in diameter and 5~30 Mm in length. The size of metal particles ranges from ten to several ten nm. Long SWCNTs with high structural quality are still observed in the TEM micrographs of purified samples (see Figure 1(b)). It reveals that the purification treatments can remove most of the metal particles and carbonaceous impurities without significant damage to SWNTs.

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: Representative TEM images of (a) initial and (b) purified SWCNTs.

3.2. SEM and EDS Analyses

Some representative SEM micrographs of copper deposited SWCNTs, Ni deposited SWCNTs, and Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs are shown in Figures 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c), respectively. A comparison among them indicates significant differences in the morphology of the three samples. Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs are 230~270 nm in diameter. The coating shows compact fine-grain appearance without obvious drusy structure. Copper deposited SWCNTs are 140~210 nm in diameter. The grains of copper monolayers grew in clusters and were inhomogeneous in size. There were quite a few vacancies among those coarse grains. The distribution of Ni-Cu deposition is more complete, homogenous, and continuous than those of copper deposition. Besides, Ni deposited SWCNTs are 120~150 nm in diameter. The distribution of thick Ni-coating is also complete, homogenous, and continuous.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 2: Representative SEM images of (a) Cu deposited SWCNTs, (b) Ni deposited SWCNTs, and (c) Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs.

These phenomena may be related to the poor interfacial bonding between SWCNTs and reactive sites (to catalyze Pd/Sn colloidal particles) on them, which could cause reactive sites to migrate and coalesce. In addition, reactive sites on the surface of SWCNTs were discontinuous. When copper was deposited on the reactive sites, some coalescing of copper grains also took place. After nickel has deposited over the reactive sites on SWCNTs, it could fully grow along normal direction and tangent direction on the surface of SWCNTs due to its strong autocatalysis. Finally nonactivated areas on the surface of SWCNTs were covered with continuous and uniform coating by the way of tangential growth. Ni substrate, as a catalyst, was unable to migrate, so deposited copper over it would not coalesce. On the other hand, the entire surface of Ni substrate has catalytic activity and was relatively smooth. Copper could nucleate homogeneously on it; thus high density nuclei and fine-grains of copper were obtained.

Figures 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c) show the EDX spectra for copper deposited SWCNTs, Ni deposited SWCNTs, and Ni-Cu copper deposited SWCNTs corresponding to Figures 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c), respectively. All of the profiles show peaks for copper or nickel along with peaks for carbon and oxygen. They indicate that our electroless deposition processes were efficient at achieving nickel or copper deposit on the surface of SWNTs. Part of the observed oxygen might be the air trapped inside the SWCNTs or coating; the remaining part might be attributed to the oxidized coating. Table 3 shows the tabulated element content values for copper deposited SWCNTs, Ni deposited SWCNTs, and Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs. The copper-to-carbon fraction of copper deposited SWCNTs sample is 14.86% in atom, while that of Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs sample is 25.41% in atom, indicating the latter coating is thicker, as observed through SEM. And the oxygen-to-copper fraction of copper deposited SWCNTs is 59.23% in atom, while that of Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs is 23.86% in atom, indicating that the former Cu-coating is oxidized more seriously.

Table 3: Element contents of EDX spectra for deposited SWCNTs.

Sample
Cu deposited SWCNTs
Ni deposited SWCNTs
Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs

Element
wt.%
at.%
wt.%
at.%
wt.%
at.%

C
52.52
80.86
55.49
81.02
31.07
67.45

O
6.16
7.12
6.17
6.76
3.70
4.09

Cu
41.32
12.02
0
0
40.52
17.14

Ni
0
0
35.46
10.59
23.75
10.47

P
0
0
2.87
1.63
0.96
0.84

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 3: EDX spectra of (a) Cu deposited SWCNTs, (b) Ni deposited SWCNTs, and (c) Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs.

3.3. X-Ray Diffraction

The XRD patterns of purified, copper deposited SWCNTs, Ni deposited SWCNTs, and Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs and over the range of angle shift values of 10° through 90° are shown in Figure 4. In the diffraction pattern () of purified sample corresponding to Figure 4(a), two prominent peaks are observed at approximately 26.2 and 43.2. They are due to the and planes of CNTs, respectively.

Figure 4: XRD patterns of (a) purified SWCNTs and (b) Cu deposited SWCNTs and (c) Ni deposited SWCNTs and (d) Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs.

In the diffraction pattern () of copper deposited SWCNTs corresponding to Figure 4(b), five peaks are observed at approximately 32.6, 41.2, 56.3, 62.21, and 73.26, respectively. The peaks at 41.2, 56.3, and 62.21 were assigned to the ,  , and planes of the fcc phase of copper, respectively. The remaining peaks at 32.6 and 62.21 correspond to CuO and Cu₂O, respectively. The growth direction of priority crystal plane in Cu-coating is , followed by direction. It may be inferred that copper deposit grew outside on the SWCNTs.

In the diffraction pattern of Ni deposited SWCNTs corresponding to Figure 4(c), broad peaks are found at around 44.37, 51.92, and 76.73, corresponding to the , , and planes of the fcc phase of nickel, respectively. The broad diffraction peak indicates a fine-grain nature of the Ni-coating.

In the diffraction pattern of Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs corresponding to Figure 4(d), five peaks are observed at approximately 41.6, 43.2, 52.3, 74.7, and 90, respectively. The peak at 43.2 was assigned to the plane of nickel, and the remaining four peaks at 41.6, 52.3, 74.7, and 90 correspond to the , , , and planes of the fcc phase of copper, respectively.

By comparing the diffraction peaks of deposited SWCNTs with those of purified SWCNTs in Figure 4, it is confirmed that layers of crystalline copper or nickel are newly introduced on surfaces of SWCNTs through electroless deposition. Furthermore, on comparison of the XRD results between Figures 4(b) and 4(d), no peak corresponds to CuO or Cu₂O in Figure 4(d), indicating that the Cu-coating on the Ni deposited SWCNTs is oxidized hardly, while the XRD results also clearly manifest that those of copper deposited SWCNTs are oxidized seriously and are consistent with the above EDX results.

In addition, it was found that the peak corresponding to the plane improved and those corresponding to the and planes weakened clearly in Figure 4(d). It shows that the grain arrangements in Cu-coating on the Ni deposited SWCNTs are more compact than those of copper deposited SWCNTs, because the former Cu-coating is composed of and the predominant fcc planes, whose atomic arrangements are more intensive than those in the latter Cu-coating. There exist obvious preferential oriented crystal textures in the Cu-coating over Ni substrate, namely, epitaxy growth.

3.4. TG-DTA

Figure 5 shows the TGA and DTA curves of purified, copper deposited SWCNTs, Ni deposited SWCNTs, and Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs at temperature from 20 to 900°C. The final temperature (900°C) is sufficient for complete burning of SWCNTs, leaving metal oxide on the sample holder. Therefore the residual weights (%) after the heating process show the metal oxide contents. The TGA curves in Figure 5(a) show that the ash content (CuO) increased from 1.7 wt% (purified sample) to 47.2 wt% (copper deposited SWCNTs sample), whereas the ash content (CuO and NiO) is 67.1 wt% (Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs sample), and the ash content (NiO) is 40.5 wt% (Ni deposited SWCNTs sample). And the corresponding metal contents (weight%) converted from metal oxide of copper deposited SWCNTs sample, Ni deposited SWCNTs sample, and Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs sample are 41.7 wt% (copper), 34.8 wt% (nickel), and 57.3 wt% (nickel and copper), respectively.

(a)

(b)

Figure 5: (a) TGA and (b) DTA curves of (a) purified SWCNTs and (b) Cu deposited SWCNTs and (c) Ni deposited SWCNTs and (d) Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs.

The TGA curve of copper deposited SWCNTs (b) in Figure 5(a) shows a slight increase in weight at low temperatures. It coincides with two exothermic peaks of DTA curve (a) in Figure 5(b) at approximately 150°C and 290°C, respectively. The first exothermic peak corresponds to the oxide of metallic copper into Cu₂O, and the second peak corresponds to the oxidization of Cu₂O into CuO, simultaneously to the oxidization of metallic copper into Cu₂O.

While the temperature corresponding to weight increment shows a significant rise for the TGA curve of Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs (d) in Figure 5(a), it also coincides with three exothermic peaks of DTA curve (d) in Figure 5(b) at higher temperature of approximately 230°C, 370°C, and 510°C, respectively. The third exothermic peak can be explained by oxidation of nickel. It indicates the nickel improves the oxidation resistance of Cu-Ni bilayers of coating.

The DTA curves (a) in Figure 5(b) corresponding to purified SWCNTs show exothermic peaks above 600°C are due to the SWCNTs oxidization, because it is accompanied by a sharp weight decrease in Figure 5(a). However, the degradation temperature of Ni-Cu deposited SWCNTs sample was greatly reduced to 550°C (see DTA curve (a) in Figure 5(b)), and that of copper deposited SWCNTs sample was 570°C (see DTA curve (b) in Figure 5(b)), showing that the thermal stability of Cu/SWCNTs samples declined. This is due to the catalytic effect of copper on the oxidization of SWCNTs. And the degradation temperature of electroless Ni deposited SWCNTs sample was increased to 690°C, providing protection.

3.5. Mechanism on the Oxidation Resistance of Ni-Cu Bimetallic Coating

Glyoxalic acid has an electric potential gap of more than 1.0 V under the conditions of between pH 0 and pH 14 during copper electroless plating [31]. The copper is inclined to be reduced under alkaline environment based on the thermodynamics principle. Besides the effective reaction of bivalent ion copper being reduced to metal copper by glyoxalic acid, there are many secondary reactions which produce Cu(OH)₂ or Cu₂O precipitation. The main secondary reactions are presented as follows:

Cuprous oxide particles suspended in the plating bath will initiate a series of decomposition reactions:

The cuprous oxide and cupric hydroxide precipitation generated in the secondary reactions makes copper monolayers loose and coarse with a large amount of impurity of oxygen that exists in the forms of copper oxides (CuO and Cu₂O).

The galvanic cell system formed while SWCNTs deposited with Ni were immersed into copper electroless plating bath and copper ions contacted with Ni-coating. Electrode potential of nickel is −0.23 V versus SHE, while that of copper is 0.3402 V versus SHE. Copper ions were prevented from losing electrons, then avoided being copper oxides, and reduced to metal copper. That is,

There were quite a few vacancies among the coarse grains of copper monolayers, and thus oxygen in the air had more access to copper coating through adsorption. Cu-coating is prone to oxidation. Ni-Cu bilayers had fine and compact grains with few of the vacancies and defects, which prevented oxygen from permeating the coating.

4. Conclusions

In this study, the electroless coating technics was applied to prepare nickel-copper bilayers coated on SWCNTs. Original SWCNTs synthesized through CVD have been pretreated through the refluxing purification, sensitization, and activation process before electroless plating. For comparison, an electroless coating process depositing SWCNTs with monolayers of copper was also carried out. The results of SEM, EDS, XRD, and TG-DTA clearly confirmed that Ni-Cu bilayers had the fine and compact grains with higher purity and fewer of the vacancies than copper monolayers.

The method of electroless coating in this research could be applied to improve the wettability of the surface of SWCNTs reinforcement and increase the bonding strength of interfaces between SWCNTs and copper matrix of composite. Because of the omission of technic step of reducing copper oxide, this method has the characteristics of easy operation and control.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 5120514) and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry (Grant no. 20132-15).

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