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Morphology and Electrical Conductivity of Poly( N ‐vinylcarbazole)/Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite Synthesized by Solid State Polymerization
Author(s) -
Maity Arjun,
Ray Suprakas Sinha,
Pillai Sreejarani K.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200700558
Subject(s) - nanocomposite , materials science , thermogravimetric analysis , carbon nanotube , polymerization , raman spectroscopy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , monomer , in situ polymerization , conductivity , scanning electron microscope , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , thermal stability , polymer , transmission electron microscopy , conductive polymer , composite material , nanotechnology , chemistry , physics , optics , engineering
Abstract This communication describes the morphology and DC conductivity of poly( N ‐vinylcarbazole) (PNVC)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite has been synthesized by solid state in situ polymerization of N ‐vinylcarbazole (NVC) monomer in the presence of MWCNTs at an elevated temperature. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy studies reveal the ability of MWCNTs to promote the in situ polymerization of the NVC monomer. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) observations show the homogeneous wrapping of MWCNTs' outer surface by PNVC polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and Raman spectroscopy results support the SEM observations. Thermogravimetric analyses reveal a significant improvement of thermal stability of the nanocomposite sample in the higher temperature region. The resulting nanocomposite material exhibits a dramatic improvement of the DC conductivity inherent to the PNVC. For example, the DC conductivity increases from ≈5.9 × 10 −13 S · cm −1 for PNVC to ≈12 S · cm −1 for the nanocomposite, an increase of about 10 13 in the electrical conductivity.