Abstract: It is demonstrated that the nickel can be deposited directly on the surface of carbon nanotubes without pre-sensitization by Sn²⁺ and Pd²⁺ in a watt bath containing suspended nanotubes by electroplating. The nickel is deposited as spherical nanoparticle on the nanotubes. By increasing reaction time, the carbon nanotube is fully coated with nickel. A probable model, which represents the formation process of carbon nanotube-nickel composites by electroplating, is presented. The results show that this method is efficient and simple for preparing carbon nanotube-metal composite.

Key words: carbon nanaotubes; nickel; composite; electroplating