Fabrication of SWNT/silica composites by the sol-gel process

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have successfully been incorporated into a silica matrix using the sol-gel process. The SWNTs were first functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) through an amide linkage formed between the carboxylic acid groups already present on their surface and the amino group on APTES. The silane moieties were then used to form silica with and without the presence of tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) in a sol-gel reaction. The addition of TMOS was found to influence the molecular arrangement of the SWNT in the silica matrix and also to retard the degradation of the silica-SWNT composite.