Polyaniline/Silver Decorated-MWCNT Composites With Enhanced Electrical and Thermal Properties

Conducting polyaniline (PANI) composites reinforced with pristine Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and silver decorated MWCNTs (Ag-MWCNTs) were fabricated via in situ polymerization method. These composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), conductivity measurements and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FTIR and UV-Vis spectra confirmed the successful polymerization of aniline on the surface of Ag-MWCNTs. SEM showed uniform dispersion of MWCNTs into PANI matrix with a few coarse patches. Studies of electrical conductivity revealed that Ag-MWCNT, as filler, is more effective in enhancing the electrical conductivity of PANI. The maximum conductivity of PANI/Ag-MWCNTs composites was almost two times, i.e., 11.9 Scm(-1) for composites having only 2% fillers as compared to that of PANI/MWCNTs having 4% filler, i.e., 5.7 Scm(-1). Thus, PANI/Ag-MWCNTs composites are thermally more stable than PANI/ MWCNTs composites due to better interaction between PANI and Ag-MWCNTs. The results of TGA suggest that PANI-MWCNTs composites showed 12 to 15% higher weight loss than that of PANI/Ag-MWCNTs composites. Also, PANI had lower thermal stability than its composites with MWCNTs and Ag-MWCNTs. (C) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers