Synthesis and Characterization of Conducting polymer/Carbon Nanotubes Composites based on polythiophene derivatives

Conducting polymer/single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) composites were synthesized by the in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. Thiophene (Th) and 2-(2-Thienyl) Pyrrole (TP) is selected as the interfacial modifier for SWNT–Poly(Th-TP) nanocomposite. The resulting cablelike morphology of the composite SWNT–Poly(Th-TP) structures was characterized with Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The standard four-point-probe method was used to measure the conductivity of the samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the SWNT–Poly(Th-TP) composites were core (SWNTs) and shell Poly(Th-TP) hybrid structures. Spectroscopic analysis data for the composites were almost identical to those for Poly(Th-TP), supporting the idea that SWNTsserved as templates in the formation of a coaxial nanostructure for the composites. The physical properties of the composites were measured and also showed that the SWNTs were modified by conducting Poly(Th-TP) with an enhancement of various properties.