Polypyrrole/Carbon Nanotube and Polyaniline/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Characterization

The aim of this research work is to investigate the preparation of polypyrrole/carbon nanotube (PPy/CNT) and polyaniline/carbon nanotube (PAn/CNT) nanocomposites in aqueous media by chemical polymerization of pyrrole and aniline in presence of ferric chloride and potassium iodate as an oxidants, respectively. The products were investigated in terms of morphology, chemical structure and thermal stability with scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) methods, respectively. The results indicate that properties of products are dependent on nanocomposite structure. Also, it was found that PAn/CNT and PPy/CNT nanocomposites show remarkable improved thermogravimetric stability by comparison with the PAn and PPy homopolymers.