Nanofibrous membranes prepared by multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(methyl methacrylate) composites

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites containing well-dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared via an in-situ bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Electrical conductivities of the synthesized PMMA/ MWNT nanocomposite films containing 1-5 wt % of MWNT were between 10(-4) and 10(-2) S/cm. When PMMA/MWNT nanocomposites with the same MWNT concentrations were electrospun in DMF into nanofibrous membrane, the conductivities were reduced to similar to10(-10) S/cm, even though dispersion of the MWNTs in the electrospun nanofibers was superior to the conventional polymer composites with carbon nanotubes. The diameter of the electrospun fibers ranged between 120+/-130 and 710+/-20 nm. In addition, MWNTs in the electrospun nanofibers were found to be embedded in the polymer matix and to align along the fiber axis.