Dramatic effect of dispersed carbon nanotubes on the mechanical and electroconductive properties of polymers derived from ionic liquids.
Free-radical polymerization of an imidazolium ion-based ionic liquid bearing a methacrylate group, gelling with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), allows fabrication of a mechanically reinforced, electroconductive soft material (bucky plastic). A film sample of this material displays an excellent conductivity of 1 S cm(-1) and a 120-fold enhancement of the Young's modulus at a 7 wt % content of SWNTs. The conductivity is temperature-dependent in the range 5-300 K, suggesting that the conductive process involves carrier hopping. Scanning electron and atomic force micrographs of a bucky plastic film display the presence of crosslinked networks consisting of finely dispersed SWNTs. Such nanotube networks, developed in the polymer matrix, likely suppress slipping of entrapped polymer molecules via a strong interfacial interaction and also facilitate intertubular carrier transport. Although a bucky plastic derived from a vinylimidazolium ion-based ionic liquid monomer shows a comparable conductivity to that of the methacrylate version, the film is brittle irrespective of the presence or absence of SWNTs.
Fukushima
Takanori
T
Aida Nanospace Project, ERATO-SORST Japan Science and Technology Agency, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, 2-41 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan. fukushima@nanospace.miraikan.jst.go.jp
Kosaka
Atsuko
A
Yamamoto
Yohei
Y
Aimiya
Takuji
T
Notazawa
Shunsuke
S
Takigawa
Toshikazu
T
Inabe
Tamotsu
T
Aida
Takuzo
T
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D019563:Mechanics; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
D003102:Colloids; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions