Multi-walled carbon nanotubes covalently attached with poly(3-hexylthiophene) for enhancement of field-effect mobility of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

For the purpose of enhancing the field-effect mobility of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized by attaching covalently P3HT onto the MWCNT surface to yield P3HT-grafted MWCNTs (g-MWCNTs). When a small amount of g-MWCNTs was added to P3HT, the field-effect mobility of the composite was considerably increased as compared to either P3HT or the composites of P3HT and carboxylated MWCNTs (c-MWCNTs). This is because g-MWCNTs are better dispersed than c-MWCNTs in P3HT matrix and consequently g-MWCNTs act more effectively as conducting bridges connecting the crystallites of P3HT. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.