Synthesis and electrical properties of conductive polyaniline/ SWCNT nanocomposites

Abstract

The synthesis of conducting polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites containing various concentrations of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWCNT) were synthesized by in situ polymerization of aniline monomer. The morphological and electrical properties of pure PANI and PANI/SWCNT nanocomposites were examined by using Fourier transform- infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) respectively. The FTIR shows the aniline monomers were polymerized on the surface of SWCNTs, depending on the -* electron interaction between aniline monomers and SWCNTs. AFM analysis showed increasing in the roughness with increasing SWCNT content. The AC, DC electrical conductivities of pure PANI and PANI/SWCNT nanocomposite have been measured in frequency range (50Hz - 600KHz) and in the temperature range from (30 to 160K). The results show the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite is higher than pure PANI.