Effect of the electrodeposition parameters on deposition morphologies of CNTs on carbon fibers

The carbon nanotubes/carbon fiber preforms were fabricated by the electrodeposition method for the alignment and uniformity of carbon nanotubes in the carbon fibers. The effect of the electrodeposition parameters including carbon nanotubes solution concentration, deposition voltage and time on the micromorphology of carbon nanotubes deposited on the carbon fibers was investigated. Results show that with the increase of the deposition voltage and time, the carbon nanotubes content increased. When the carbon nanotubes concentration is 0.1 wt%, and the deposited voltage and time remained 10 volts and 10 minutes, uniform and less agglomerated carbon nanotubes were deposited on the carbon fiber. Thick carbon nanotube coating was also obtained in 1 wt% carbon nanotube solution concentration, a deposition voltage of 20 volts and a deposition time above 30 minutes.