Abstract Submitted to the    NANOTUBE'04 Conference:

Zirconium oxide (ZrO2)/carbon nanotube composites were prepared by hydrothermal crystallisation of zirconium hydroxide [(Zr(OH)4 nH2O; n = 8-16] in the presence of carbon nanotubes. The hydrothermal crystallisation of zirconium oxide, under autoclave conditions, occurred on the walls of the tubes. The process yielded a homogeneous, composite powder consisting of microcrystalline ZrO2 and multi-walled nanotubes, hence representing an alternative route for the synthesis of ceramic-nanotube composites. Micro-structural and qualitative characterisations were performed using different electron microscopy techniques.