Attaching Titania Nanoparticles onto Shortened Carbon Nanotubes by Electrostatic Attraction

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be electronically conducting or semiconducting, and they are lightweight and have high stability. TiO ₂ has been studied for applications in optics, microelectronics, and photocatalysis. Hybrid CNTs/TiO ₂ shows unique photocatalytic and electrical properties for enhanced performances as solar cell electrode, sensors, and catalysts. This study is focused on shortening multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs) and attaching TiO ₂ nanoparticles onto MWCNTs by electrostatic attraction. A mechanical and chemical hybrid method is used to tailor CNT length. Opposite ζ‐potentials are achieved for CNT and TiO ₂ nanoparticle suspensions under the same pH. TiO ₂ nanoparticles are attached onto CNTs for surface modification by electrostatic attraction.