Simple and efficient gold nanoparticles deposition on carbon nanotubes with controllable particle sizes

There are important applications of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with deposited nanoparticles and several methods exist for synthesizing these nanocomposites. However, a simpler and more efficient method is desired in many cases. Here, we introduce a method where MWCNT were pre-mixed with sodium citrate, and using ultrasonication, shells of sodium citrate were formed on the nanotubes. These functionalized MWCNTs served as substrates for gold nanoparticle growth. When HAuCl4 was added to the reaction system, Au3+ was directly reduced at the surface of the MWCNT and gold nanoparticles were assembled along the MWCNT. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that the density of the gold nanoparticle coating process depended on the amount of the carbon nanotubes when the sodium citrate concentration was keep unchanged. In addition, by controlling the concentration of sodium citrate and HAuCl4, the size of gold nanoparticles could be controlled. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and UV–vis were also used to characterize the MWCNT–Au nanocomposites. Compared with other methods, the procedure described here required only water solutions and there are no needs for high temperature steps, surfactants or organic solvents, resulting in a simple and fast method for efficient gold nanoparticle decoration of carbon nanotubes.