Improved optical, electrical, and thermal properties of bio-inspired gelatin/SWCNT composite

In this study, we report a facile route to synthesize gelatin-based Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (gelatin/SWCNT) nanocomposites using a simple solution casting process and investigate the impact of SWCNT filler on the structural, surface morphological, optical, electrical, and thermal features. According to the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study, the addition of SWCNTs improves the interaction between gelatin and SWCNTs. The field emission scanning electron microscope images showed the presence of the fillers increased with the increment of SWCNT. The roughness of the samples increased caused by high interfacial interactions between Gel and SWCNTs. The nanocomposite’s optical bandgap was observed to be reduced from 2.1 to 1.9 eV as the SWCNT was varied from 0% to 0.5 vol. %. The addition of SWCNTs significantly boosted the DC electrical conductivity of the prepared samples by four orders of magnitude. The incorporation of SWCNT into the gelatin matrix was also observed to improve the nanocomposite's melting enthalpy and degree of crystallinity up to 94.5%. The gelatin/SWCNT nanocomposites were found to be decomposed completely in 4 days in the soil in an open environment.