Electrical and Optical Properties of Titanium Dioxide-Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites

The electrical and optical properties of carbon nanotube and titanium dioxide nano-composites have been investigated. The carbon nanotubes were prepared by chemical vapor deposition. The diameters and lengths of the carbon nanotubes were respectively determined to be 20-30 nm and about 3-5 mu m by high resolution transmittance electron microscopy. The direct current electrical conductivity values sigma(dc) of the nanocomposites were found to be in the range of 5.96 x 10(-3)-0.47 S/cm. It was found that the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites increases with CNT content. The optical band gaps of the nanocomposites were determined by Kubelka-Munk theory based on the analysis of diffuse reflectance spectra. The band gap (E-g) values of the composites were decreased with increasing CNT contents. The obtained results indicate that the electrical and optical properties of TiO2 semiconductor metal oxide can be improved by incorporation of CNT content for electronic applications.