Development of enhanced multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) conductive polymeric nanocomposites by using acidified derivative of MWCNT as dispersant

摘要

The agglomeration of pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) within a polymer matrix has largely limited the efficient conductive reinforcement of MWCNTs-based polymeric nanocomposites. In this paper, the pristine MWCNTs realized well-dispersed with the assistance of nitric acid acidified MWCNTs. The as-prepared hybrid MWCNTs were used to prepare hybrid MWCNTs buckypaper and hybrid MWCNTs/polyvinyl butyral (PVB) nanocomposites. The hybrid MWCNTs dispersion maintained good dispersing stability over 3 months. The fabrication of hybrid MWCNTs buckypaper shows that the intrinsic conductivity of the hybrid MWCNTs is 25.1 +/- 0.2 S/cm, higher than the pristine ones of 23.3 +/- 0.2 S/cm. The SEM images of hybrid MWCNTs/PVB nanocomposites show that hybrid MWCNTs are distributed homogenously in the PVB matrix. The conductive performance of nanocomposites is significantly enhanced with a low percolation of 0.44 +/- 0.05 wt.% and a high critical exponent of 3.57. Published under license by AIP Publishing.