Plasma Functionalization of MWCNTs in He Followed by NH_3 Treatment and its Application in PMMA Based Nanocomposites

摘要

We report treatment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by dielectric barrier rndischarge plasma followed by their exposure to NH_3, which are to be used for making rnpoly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) based nanocomposites. First MWCNTs were treated by rnHe plasma and then exposed to NH_3. Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy rnshowed presence of nitrogen-containing functional groups attached to the MWCNTs surface. rnInfluence of the functionalized nanotubes (F-MWCNTs) rnon surface electrical resistivity of the PMMA-based rnnanocomposites was determined and compared with rnthose of pristine (not functionalized) and acid-treated rnMWCNTs. The results revealed that F-MWCNTs decrease rnthe surface electrical resistivity of the nanocomposites rnbetter than those of pristine and acid-treated MWCNTs. rnThis was attributed to better dispersion state of FrnMWCNTs confirmed by optical microscopy and scanning rnelectron microscopy images.