Carbon nanotube effect on polyaniline morphology in water dispersible composites.
A straightforward, template-free chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline was used to prepare nanofibrillar polyaniline (nf-PANI) and a set of corresponding composites with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). All the products showed remarkable water dispersibility since they are formed by hydrophilic particles of nanometric size. A comparative study performed on composites in a wide range of MWNT loadings has led to two main conclusions: on one hand, the presence of MWNTs affects neither the chemical structure nor the crystallinity of polyaniline. On the other hand, even small amounts of MWNTs have a significant effect on the morphology of polyaniline in composites. This effect is noticeable not only in electron microscopy images but also in the UV-vis absorbance of water dispersions and electrical conductivity behavior in the solid state. Competition between nucleation sites during polymerization is proposed as an explanation for these phenomena.
Jiménez
Pablo
P
Instituto de Carboquímica (CSIC), Department of Nanotechnology, C/ Miguel Luesma Castán 4, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain. pablojm@icb.csic.es
Castell
Pere
P
Sainz
Raquel
R
Ansón
Alejandro
A
Martínez
M Teresa
MT
Benito
Ana M
AM
Maser
Wolfgang K
WK