Carbon Nanotube Mediated Reduction in Optical Activity in Polyaniline Composite\nMaterials

Abstract

Optically active composite materials were prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of\nmultiwalled carbon nanotubes, followed by doping with (<i>R</i>)-(−)-10-camphorsulfonic acid. The reduction in\ncircular dichroism intensity with increasing nanotube loading fraction is attributed to changes in the ratio of\n“free” polymer versus polymer interacting with carbon nanotubes. These changes are shown to correspond to\na decreasing polyaniline stereoselectivity with increasing nanotube loading fraction.