Effect of polyaniline‐coated carbon nanotube and nanosilver hybrid nanoparticles on the dielectric properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites

Abstract

The polyaniline (PANI)‐coated functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (f‐CNTs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (PANI@f‐CNTs and PANI@AgNPs hybrid nanofillers) are synthesized by means of in situ polymerization of aniline monomer on the surface of f‐CNTs and AgNPs. The PANI@f‐CNTs and PANI@AgNPs hybrid nanofillers were successfully incorporated into the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix through in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis reveals that the existence of strong interfacial adhesive bonding between PANI@f‐CNTs and PANI@AgNPs hybrid nanofillers and PMMA matrix. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that there is no change in position of the diffraction peak as a result crystallinity of the samples are not much affected by the addition of hybrid nanofillers. The transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis displayed that the phase morphology of the PMMA nanocomposites is significantly changed as well as hybrid nanofillers are homogeneously dispersed within the PMMA matrix. The AC conductivity (σac), dielectric permittivity (ɛ′) dielectric loss (tan δ) of the PMMA nanocomposites are remarkably increases whereas the real impedance (Z′) decreases by the Incorporation of the hybrid nanofillers into the PMMA matrix, which concludes that the synthesized polymer materials have most promising dielectric application. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1294–E1305, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers