In situ solution process for fabricating thermally and mechanically stable highly conductive ZnO-CNT fiber composites

A simple in situ solution process was developed to produce a mechanically and thermally stable ZnO-carbon nanotube fiber composite. ZnO nanoparticles were homogeneously deposited onto the surfaces of and interstices within CNT fibers (between individual CNTs). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman analysis revealed that ZnO nanoparticles contained oxygen vacancy defects and CNT fibers included oxygen containing functional group that strongly interacted with Zn. The strong interaction enhanced the mechanical properties of the composite fibers. The Young modulus (20 GPa) and tensile strength (118 MPa) were enhanced compared to the corresponding values of the pristine CNT fibers. The thermal stability was high up to 880°C and light absorption was enhanced across the UV to near IR region in a ZnO-CNT fiber composite. The electrical conductivity of the composite was high up to 954 S/cm despite semiconductor deposition.