Characterization and Electrical Transport Properties of Polyaniline and Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Composites

Polyaniline/multiwalled carbon nanotube (PANI/MWNT) composites were prepared by in situ polymerization. Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, Uv-Visible spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectrophotometry were done to characterize the PANI/MWNT composites. Thermal stability was measured by thermogravimetry analysis. The thermal stability of PANI/MWNT composites becomes higher than PANI. Electrical transport properties of different PANI/MWNT composites were investigated in the temperature range 77 <= T <= 300 K with and without magnetic field up to 1 T. The dc resistivity of PANI/MWNT composites shows different behavior compared to the sample without MWNT. The room temperature dc magnetoconductivity of the samples is negative; however, its sign changes to positive by lowering the temperature, which has been explained by hopping type charge transport. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1767-1775, 2010