title: Polyetherimide/bucky gels nanocomposites with superior conductivity and thermal stability.
abstract: Polyetherimide (PEI) nanocomposites comprising bucky gels of industrial-grade multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and ionic liquid (IL, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6])) were prepared. The processing framework for this nanocomposite is simple, reproducible, and easily scalable. The strong interaction between IL and MWCNTs caused the latter to uniformly disperse in the PEI matrix while IL flowed into the gaps between the nanotubes' walls. The nanocomposite exhibited an enhanced conductivity of 2.01 × 10(4) Ω·cm volume resistivity at room temperature; the value decreased dramatically by 12 orders of magnitude, compared to pristine PEI. The IL free ions and MWCNTs networks provided excellent channels for electron transfer. PEI/bucky gels nanocomposites also showed improved thermal stability and high tensile strength. Other than having antiwear properties, this material can have numerous applications in the aerospace and electronics industries. Moreover, our work presents a "green" method toward modified nanocomposites industrial production as IL is environmentally safe and is easily recyclable.
authors.affiliation: Controlled Release and Delivery Lab, Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Niveen M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Khashab