title: Fabrication of Vertical Array CNTs/Polyaniline Composite Membranes by Microwave-Assisted In Situ Polymerization.
abstract: A vertical array carbon nanotubes (VACNTs)/polyaniline (PANi) composite membrane was prepared by microwave-assisted in situ polymerization. With microwave assistance, the morphology of PANi revealed a smaller diameter and denser connection. Meanwhile, thermogravimetric analysis showed improved thermal stability of microwave-assisted PANi for higher molecular weight. Focused ion beam thinning method was used to cut the VACNTs/PANi membrane into dozen-nanometer thin strips along the cross-sectional direction, and transmission electron microscopy observation showed seamless deposition of PANi between VACNT gaps, without damaging the vertical status of CNTs. Meanwhile, stronger conjugate interaction between the quinoid ring of PANi and VACNTs of the composite membrane were prompted by microwave-assisted in situ polymerization. By using nanoindentation technology, the VACNTs/PANi composite membrane showed exponential increasing of modulus and hardness. Meanwhile, the elasticity was also improved, which was proved by the calculated plastic index. The results can provide helpful guidance for seamlessly infiltrating matrix into CNT array and also demonstrate the importance of structural hierarchy for getting proper behavior of nanostructures.
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China.|School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China. lixiaoyan@usst.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China. wangxia@usst.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China.
authors.forename: Jinrui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China.
authors.forename: Dengguang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Material Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China.
authors.forename: Biwei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qiu
keywords: Composite; Microwave assisted; Polyaniline; Vertical array carbon nanotubes