Title: Nanomanufacturing of multi-walled carbon nanotubes enhanced electrochemical electrode through surface micromachining

Authors: Wenjing Lu, Guifu Ding, Yan Wang, Min Deng, Zhenwei Zhou

Addresses: Institute of Micro and Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. ' Institute of Micro and Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. ' Institute of Micro and Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. ' Institute of Micro and Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. ' Institute of Micro and Nano Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China

Abstract: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were dispersed into polyimide (PI) by mechanical ball milling and spun on a titanium substrate to form a composite film, which was fabricated by surface micromachining to make the involved CNTs partially exposed on the surface. The partially exposed carbon nanotubes are rooted in the cured PI, and it looks like that CNT were implanted into the surface of the electrode uniformly. The morphology of the electrode was characterised by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrochemical activity was evaluated in dilute copper sulphate solution by cyclic voltammetry measurement. The performance of the etched electrode is much better than that of bare and unetched electrodes. The fabricated MWNTs enhanced electrode can be used to detect trace phenol in water.

Keywords: MWNT-PI composites; surface micromachining; CNT enhanced electrodes; electrochemical performance; nanomanufacturing; nanotechnology; multi-walled carbon nanotubes; electrochemical electrodes; polyimides; ball milling; titanium substrate; composite films; phenol traces; water.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2011.040717

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2011 Vol.7 No.2, pp.104 - 115

Received: 04 Nov 2010
Accepted: 19 Jan 2011
Published online: 28 Feb 2015 *

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