Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)/nylon-6 (PA6) nanocomposites with different MWNTs loadings have been prepared by the simple melt-compounding approach. A fine and homogeneous dispersion of MWNTs throughout PA6 matrix is observed by transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy observation on the fracture surfaces of the composites shows not only a uniform dispersion of MWNTs but also a strong interfacial adhesion with the matrix, as evidenced by the presence of many broken but strongly embedded carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the matrix and by the absence of debonding of CNTs from the matrix. Beadlike morphology is also observed along the stretched CNTs and their bundles, probably indicating the anchoring locations of the CNTs defects (within the beads) along the tubes where the PA6 matrix has strong interfacial interactions with the CNTs, thus being favorable to stress transfer from polymer to CNTs. Mechanical testing (by tensile and nanoindentation tests as well as dynamic mechanical analysis) shows that, compared with neat PA6, the elastic modulus and the yield strength of the composite are greatly improved by about 214% and 162%, respectively, with incorporating only 2 wt % MWNTs. In addition, a unique crystallization and melting behavior of MWNTs/PA6 composites are observed and discussed by combining differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction; that is, only the α-form crystals are observed in MWNTs/PA6 composites, which is quite different from the case observed in PA6/clay nanocomposites.

A higher yield of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was obtained by treatment of CNTs in HNO3 or H2SO4-K2Cr2O7. The deposition of platinum nanoparticles and nanoclusters on these functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes by electroless plating was facilitated by a two-step sensitization-activation pretreatment. The deposition was sensitive to the aging time of the sensitizing solution and the pH of the plating solution. The resulting electrocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry. XPS analysis showed that the Pt/CNT electrocatalysts contained 67.3% of Pt(0) and 32.7% of Pt(IV). Test runs on a single stack polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell showed that these electrocatalysts are very promising for fuel cell applications.

Biopolymer chitosan/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by a simple solution-evaporation method. The morphology and mechanical properties of the chitosan/MWNTs nanocomposites have been characterized with field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), bright field transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical microscopy (OM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), and tensile as well as nanoindentation tests. The MWNTs were observed to be homogeneously dispersed throughout the chitosan matrix. When compared with neat chitosan, the mechanical properties, including the tensile modulus and strength, of the nanocomposites are greatly improved by about 93% and 99%, respectively, with incorporation of only 0.8 wt % of MWNTs into the chitosan matrix.