I � Proceedings of the "Intenational Conference on Advanced Nanomaterials & Emerging Engineering Technologies" (ICANEET-20J3) organized �by Sathyabama University, Chennai, India in association with DRDO, New Delhi, India, 24 h _26 h , July, 2013. .. O .. .1 0 .. Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization of V205/MWNTs Nanocomposites Arunbalaji Subramanian # \ R.Vijayarangan * 2, S.Vivekananthan * 3, B.Bhuvaneshwari * 4, R.Jayavel # S NageshR.Iye/6 # Centre for Nanoscience and Technoloy, Anna Universiy, Chennai, India - 600025 ' Structural Engineering Research Centre - (CSIR-SERCj, Taramani, Chennai, India - 600113 'arun0503@gmail.com Abstract-Vanadium pentoxide(V20S) is gaining more attention as it is one of theversatile materialsand shows superior properties at the size range of nanoscale. In order to enhance the properties of V20S nanoparticIe, a functionally oriented nanocomposite material has been designed, which consists of V20S and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (f-MWNTs). Hydrothermal method was adopted for synthesising V20S and V20s/f-MWNTsnanocomposite. Crystalline nature of V20S and V20s/f-MWNTs nanocomposites was revealed by powderX-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The morphology of the as-prepared samples were studied by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), which shows uniform rod-like structures with the length range up to 1-4 1m and width range of 70-300 nm. It is concluded that, hydrothermal is a promising method to synthesis the well-ordered nanocomposites. I. INTRODUCTION Nanostructured materials possess many applications due to the high reactivity and high sensitivity because of large surface to volume ratio. One dimensional nanomaterials such as nanobelts, nanorods are predominant in processing nanomaterial than other forms of nanostructures. Vanadium pentoxide (V20S) is an interesting material, which exhibits the diferent physical and chemical properties, which paves the way to new routes to many versatile applications. The adaptability of the material to exist in different oxidation states, tailors the material to various ields. Owing to the structural versatility combined with the physical and chemical properties the vanadium oxide[l] and its derivatives have got signiicant attention [2]. Vanadium pentoxide has been considered as an insertion electrode material [3-5], for lithium rechargeable batteries, due to its high energy density [6], ease of fabrication, and relative safety [7]. Traditionally, it is used as glass colorants, catalysts, production of tool steels and strengthening of steels. t is also used as microalloying element to increase the precipitation strengthening and also used in seismic resistant rebars in construction industry [8]. The functionality of the nanocomposite is enhanced by incorporating the nanostructures on the nanomatrix like CNTs and graphene. Moreover, the Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received much attention over the past decade due to its extraordinary physical, chemical and mechanical properties. In order to widen the application of CNTs in various ields like corrosion inhibitor, they are essentially to be unctionalized via attaching the nanostructures in to their surface [7]. Among many other physical methods of synthesis of nanomaterials, hydrothermal is prominent method which makes the use of raised pressure and temperatures. The shape controlled synthesis of nanostructures always relies on such methods rather than chemical methods. Since, very limited number of literature on the hydrothermal synthesis of V20s/f MWNTs nanocomposite, we reported the fabricated V20s/f MWNTs nanocomposites through the simple hydrothermal method by varying the CNTs concentrations.In this present work, the effect of addition of f-MWNTs in the vanadium pentoxidewere studied in order to characterize the geometrical structure of the nanocomposite and the amount of changes caused by f-MWNTs in the V20S material on surface area and other physical properties. II. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION A. Materials Ammonium metavanadate (NH4 V03) and f-Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTs), diameter 20-30nm, length 5-15lm, was purchased from Fisher Scientiic Pvt Ltd and NanoshelPvt Ltd respectively. Nitric acid (HN03) was purchased from the Merck chemicals. Throughout the work, double distilled water was used. B. Hydrothermal synthesis of V205 and V2-s nanocomposite V20s/f-MWNTs nanocomposites were prepared by the simple hydrothermal techniques, by using ammonium metavanadate (NH4 V03), as a precursor. The ammonium metavanadate and f MWNTs, were used as received. In this typical procedure, 19 of ammonium metavanadate and f-MWNTs (0.05, 0. 1 g) were dissolved in 50 ml of double distilled water, then stirrer the solution vigorously and the solution pH was adjusted to 1 by carefully adding the nitric acid (N03) drop by drop. The solution was transferred into the 100 ml Telon coated stainless steel autoclave, sealed it careully and placed into oven for 6h at 433 K. Ater 6hof the hydrothermal process,autoclave was cooled down to room temperature. The obtained solution was 978-1-4799-1379-4/13/$31.00 ©2013 IEEE 120