A general electrochemical approach to deposition of metal hydroxide/oxide nanostructures onto carbon nanotubes

This communication describes a new and relatively general electrochemical approach to the deposition of transition metal hydroxide/oxide nanostructures onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) based on the precipitation of metal hydroxide/oxide nanostructures onto MWNTs by increasing the local pH values at the electrode/electrolyte interface induced by the proton-consuming electrochemical reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The results obtained with cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectrom spectroscopy of the synthetic nanocomposites substantially suggest the deposition of the metal hydroxides/oxides onto MWNTs induced by the electrochemical reduction of H2O2. This study essentially offers a facile but effective and relatively general electrochemical approach to the synthesis of the nanocomposites consisting of metal hydroxides/oxides and MWNTs. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.