Doped polyaniline/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites: Preparation and characterization

• Published in: Polymer composites Vol. 34; no. 7; pp. 1119 - 1125
• Main Authors: Cui, Liqiang, Yu, Junsheng, Lv, Yinghai, Li, Guijiang, Zhou, Shixue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, NJ Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2013; Wiley
• Subjects: Aniline; Applied sciences; Composites; Dissolution; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanostructure; Polyanilines; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer matrix composites; Polymerization; Scanning electron microscopy; Technology of polymers; Electrical conductivity; Amino group; Electrical properties; Aromatic polymer; Carbon nanotubes; Experimental study; Composite material; Thermal stability; Surface treatment; Conducting polymers; Thermal properties; Functionalization; Multiwalled nanotube; Preparation; Concentration effect; Doped polymer; Nanocomposite; Oxidative polymerization; Aniline polymer
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.22520

Polyaniline (PANI)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) composites with a uniform tubular structure were prepared from in situ polymerization by dissolving amino‐functionalized MWNT (a‐MWNT) in aniline monomer. For this the oxidized multiwalled nanotube was functionalized with ethylenediamine, which provided ethylenediamine functional group on the MWNT surface confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectra (FT‐IR). The a‐MWNT was dissolved in aniline monomer, and the in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of these well dispersed nanotubes yielded a novel tubular composite of carbon nanotube having an ordered uniform encapsulation of doped polyaniline. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the nanotubes were coated with a PANI layer. The thermal stability and electrical conductivity of the PANI /MWNTs composites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and conventional four‐probe method respectively. Compared with pure PANI, the electrical conductivity and the decomposition temperature of the MWNTs/PANI composites increased with the enhancement of MWNT content in PANI matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1119–1125, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers