Authors: S Ghatak, G Chakraborty, AK Meikap, T Woods, R Babu, WJ Blau

Publication Date: 01/15/2011

Journal: Journal of Applied Polymer Science

Volume: 119

Issue: 2

Pages: 1016-1025

Publisher: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company

The synthesis of polyaniline (PANI) containing different carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by in situ polymerization is reported in this study. The samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy were used to determine the change in structure of the polymer/CNT composites. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the composites had better thermal stability than the pure PANI. Photoluminescence spectra showed a blueshift in the PANI–single‐walled nanotube (SWNT) composite. Low‐temperature (77–300 K) electrical transport properties were measured in the absence and presence of a magnetic field up to 1 T. Direct‐current conductivity exhibited a nonohmic, three‐dimensional variable range hopping mechanism. The room‐temperature magnetoconductivity of all of the investigated samples except the PANI–SWNT …