Single-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced copper composite coatings prepared by electrodeposition under ultrasonic field

Single-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced Cu composite coatings prepared by electrochemical deposition under ultrasonic field exhibit smaller crystallite size and higher lattice micro-strain compared with a pure Cu coating. The as-deposited coatings retain a good electrical conductivity comparable to pure copper and simultaneously show a significant enhancement in mechanical properties. This indicates that the present electrochemical deposition technique can be used for preparing the carbon nanotube-reinforced metals with enhanced mechanical and functional properties.