Stability of interface between MgO and carbon nanotubes

In this work, MgO-coated carbon nanotubes (MgO@CNTs) were synthesized via the co-deposition technique. The samples of MgO@CNTs were treated by using the high power ultrasonic vibration with a long time to verify their structural stability. Microstructure of the CNTs and MgO@CNTs was characterized by using the FI-IT spectra analysis, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The experiment result reveals that the high power ultrasonic vibration and the long-time ultrasonic-treatment can easily cut off the CNTs, while the MgO nanoparticles are still tightly adsorbed on the surface of CNTs without removing away from the surface of CNTs by the ultrasonic vibration. It means that MgO@CNTs is a novel reinforcement for the Mg-based composite because the MgO nanoparticles and CNTs have formed a good interface bonding with high stability. Simultaneously, the stable interfacial bonding between MgO and CNTs is explained by the first- principle calculation.