Preparation and Photoconductivity Study of AZO Nanocomposites Based on Carbon Nanotubes

摘要

2, 5-bis (1'-Azo-2'-hydroxy-3'-naphthoyl-o-chloroanide) oxazole (AZO) nanoparticles and the nanoscale AZO pigments immobilized on the outer shell of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-AZO) were prepared by a modified liquid phase reprecipitation method. The AZO nanoparticles and the MWCNT-AZO hybrid were characterized by means of TEM, XRD, XPS, and UV-Vis absorption. The photoconductivities of single-layered photoreceptors, where MWCNT-AZO hybrid or AZO nanoparticles served as the charge generation material (CGM) , were studied by the xerographic photoinduced discharge method. The results showed that the photoconductivity of AZO nanoparticles was improved greatly compared to that of bulk AZO due to nanometer size effect. It was also found that the MWCNT-AZO nano hybrid showed broader and enhanced photosensitivity than MWCNT/bulk azo pigments (AZO) blend or the bulk AZO did, which was interpreted in terms of nanometer size effect of MWCNT-AZO hybrid and charge transfer from AZO nanoparticles to MWCNT.