Fabrication of conjugated polymer/carbon nano-tube composite materials for capacitors

Abstract

Modification of carbon nanotubes could improve and enhance their properties. Four conjugated polymer (CPs)/organic molecules functionalized carbon nanotubes were prepared based on amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NH2-MWCNT) in this work. Two of them were prepared by Schiff base formation reaction, and another two were prepared by Suzuki coupling reaction. With this procedure, fabrication of CPs/MWCNT composite electronic materials could be achieved. The modified carbon nanotubes were characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, and SEM. The electrochemical properties of these novel carbon nanotubes were studied by Cyclic Voltammetry and galvanostatic charge and discharge measurement. The specific capacitance (1.05 F g−1) of the MWCNT increases with the increasing amount of CPs grafted onto the MWCNTs (7.08 F g−1). It is found that the amount of conjugated polymers on the surfaces of MWCNTs could be tuned by adjusting the precursors for the CPs. Accordingly; the specific capacitance of the as-prepared composite materials could be tuned.