Modified Electrodes with Nanocomposite Films Based on Conducting Polymers and Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Nanoporous composite films of functionalized single–walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), 3-methylthiophene and 2-aminophenol were grown electrochemically from aqueous solutions such that constituents were deposited simultaneously onto substrate electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the composite films consisted of nanoporous networks of SWCNTs (SWANTs- with carboxylic acids functionalized - CNT-COOH and with octadecylamina) coated with polymeric film. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that these composite films had similar electrochemical response rates to pure polymeric films but a lower resistance and much improved mechanical integrity. The negatively charged functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTsF) served as anionic dopant during the electropolymerization to synthesize polymer/CNTsF composite films. The synthetic, morphological and electrical properties of the obtained nanocomposite films were compared. The specific electrochemical capacitance of the composite films is a significantly greater value than that for pure polymer films prepared similarly. Using these composite films, the modified electrodes with improved properties were obtained. These nanoporous composites showed improved mechanical integrity, higher electronic and ionic conductivity and exhibited larger electrode specific capacitance than the polymer alone. All of the composite films were a very promising electrode material for application in supercapacitor