Influence of the Decoration of Copper Metal Nanoparticles on the Structural and Electronic Properties of Carbon Nanotubes

In this study, we have performed two properties (gas sensing and the field emission) of the MWCNTs simultaneously. We have first deposited the iron (Fe) catalyst on silicon (Si) substrate and have then used the low-pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) method to prepare the carbon nanotubes. We have decorated the CNTs by the metal (Cu) nanoparticles to enhance their electronic properties and to increase the surface area of the as prepared material. We have performed the gas sensing behaviour of the pristine/bare and decorated MWCNTs and compare the gas response behaviour of bare and decorated MWCNTs, a slightly high sensor response is obtained (Rg − Ra)/Ra × 100) of NH₃ gas in decorated 65% than in the bare 42% CNTs. Also we have improved the field emission behaviour of the CNTs by decorating with the Cu metal nanoparticles on the surface; in field emission behaviour, we have enhanced it by 1.82 V/µm in decorated than in pristine 2.5v/µm. The decoration of the CNT surface by the copper metal nanoparticles has been done by the RF-sputtering method for 6 min time interval at constant (non-variable) power of 120W by generating the nitrogen plasma inside the vacuum chamber. After that we have analyzed the structural and electrical properties of the prepared CNTs by FESEM and Raman spectroscopy, as they were being manufactured.