Development of highly conductive nickel-coated carbon nanopaper sheets by pulse laser deposition

Surface coating of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers can significantly improve their properties such as electrical, thermal, magnetic, acoustic, vibration, catalytic, optical properties. This paper presents a novel method to coat carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers by using as-prepared carbon nanopaper sheets. The carbon nanopaper sheet consisted of randomly oriented single-walled nanotubes and vapor grown carbon nanofibers, which formed into a highly uniform non-woven material. This flexible and lightweight material was coated with nickel by laser pulse deposition. The effects of deposition parameters on the morphology of the nanotubes and nanofibers will be studied using scanning electron microscopy. The electrical conductivities of carbon nanopaper sheets associated with deposition parameters will be characterized using four-point probe method. The deposition parameters will be optimized to achieve a highly conductive carbon nanopaper sheet.