Evolution and Interdependence of Structure and Properties of Nanocomposites of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes with Polyaniline

Abstract

Structure–property relationships of nanocomposites of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polyaniline (PANI) doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) are studied and discussed in terms of contribution of the PANI phase properties. Two phases of PANI-DBSA with different properties, such as a shell-wrapping carbon nanotube and separate neat PANI-DBSA domains, are revealed for the first time in the nanocomposites with a high or medium PANI-DBSA content. In the nanocomposites with lower PANI-DBSA contents (<40 wt %), only a core–shell morphology with ∼3 nm or lower thickness PANI shell on the nanotubes is observed. Under this condition, the degree of crystallinity of the PANI-DBSA shell increases almost 2-fold, and thermal stability of the nanocomposite grows sharply. As compared with the neat PANI-DBSA, this special PANI shell phase has more perfect molecular structure and is characterized by a reduced amount of DBSA. It is found that the latter is caused by a competition between the processes of doping of the formed PANI in the shell by the protonic acid and p-doping caused by the MWCNT surface. The nanocomposites demonstrate ppm/ppb range sensitivity to ammonia/methylamine gases with response times, which inversely depend on the PANI-DBSA contents and thickness of the shell.