Synthesis of Fe-CNTs Nanocomposite and Its Ignition with Photo Flash

Abstract

In this study a Fe-CNTs Nanocomposite was synthesised by exploiting the excellent adsorption abilities of CNTs through doping with Fe nanoparticles and ignition of the composite was achieved by subjecting it to camera photo flash. During synthesis process the raw or as received MWCNTs were purified and activated by grafting these tubes through wet oxidation process with OH and COOH functional groups. The activated CNTs were decorated with Fe nanoparticles in different concentrations. Samples were characterized by using FTIR, FE-SEM, EDS, TG/DTA and XRD techniques. It was found that photo flash ignition of CNTs-Fe composite was attained with minimum doping of 15.89 % Fe particles by weight (wt.) and maximum ignition efficiency was achieved with 32.22 % Fe. Two important aspects of this study were; Fe nanoparticles were decorated on CNTs without getting pre mature oxidation of these metal particles in air and also avoiding their agglomeration, being well dispersed on CNTs surfaces. Secondly, CNTs which are thermally very stable species got ignited by applying flashes of a simple photo camera with intensity of 14 mW/cm2. Fe-CNTs displayed its decomposition around 350 oC instead of 600 oC as compared to the degradation of pristine CNTs. Same synthesis technique may be used for adsorbing various nanometals on the surface of CNTs for their further application as sorbents. Keywords: Nanocomposite, CNTs, Doping, Fe, Photo Flashing.