Synthesis, characterization, and electrical properties of polypyrrole/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites

Size-controllable polypyrrole (PPy)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites have been synthesized by in situ chemical oxidation polymerization directed by various concentrations of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Raman spectra, FTIR, SEM, and TEM were used to characterize their structure and morphology. These results showed that the composites are core (MWCNT)shell (PPy) tubular structures with the thickness of the PPy layer in the range of 2040 nm, depending on the concentration of CTAB. Raman and FTIR spectra of the composites are almost identical to those of PPy alone. The electrical conductivities of these composites are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than those of PPy without MWCNTs. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.