Carbon-nanotube metal-matrix composites prepared by electroless plating

It has been demonstrated that cobalt could be plated onto the surfaces of c arbon nanotubes by electroless plating. In this manner a layer of cobalt is formed as nanoparticles on the suface of the carbon nanotube. It was found that the activation process and low deposition rate are critical for getti ng better coating. Furthermore, the heat-treatment of the coated carbon nan otubes was found to be a very effective way of improving the deposited coat ing layer. The results from this study have demonstrated the technical fess ibility of electroless plating for the preparation of a one-dimensional nan oscale composite. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.