TEM characterization of metal and metal oxide particles supported by multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Composites of Sn–Pd particles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), and of Ni–Co particles and MWNTs were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Sn–Pd particle composites were prepared by impregnation deposition, and the Ni–Co particle composites were prepared by electroless deposition on MWNTs synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method using thermal catalytic decomposition of hydrocarbon. The morphologies and the microstructure of the deposited particles were investigated upon annealing the composites with and without hydrogen. Both the crystalline particle structure and the particle morphology are observed to be different for the samples annealed with and without hydrogen.