Anchorage of γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNx-MWNTs) have been decorated with γ-Al₂O₃ nanoparticles by a novel method. This process involved a wet chemical approach in conjunction with thermal treatment. During the particle anchoring process, individual CNx-MWNT nanotubes agglomerated into bundles, resulting in arrays of aligned CNx-MWNT coated with γ-Al₂O₃. Extensive characterization of the resulting γ-Al₂O₃/CNx-MWNT bundles was performed using a range of electron microscopy imaging and microanalytical techniques. A possible mechanism explaining the nanobundle alignment is described, and possible applications of these materials for the fabrication of ceramic composites using CNx-MWNTs are briefly discussed.