Synthesis and characterization of a novel silver nanoparticles decorated functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes nanohybrids embedded polyaniline ternary nanocomposites: thermal, dielectric, and sensing properties

Abstract

ABSTRACT The recent research paper describes the synthesis of the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWNTs) hybrid nanofillers reinforced polyaniline (PANI) (PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs) nanocomposites, which was carried out through in situ polymerization process to analyze its thermal, dielectric, and sensing properties. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed the occurrence of interphase interactions within the Ag@f-SWNTs hybrid nanofillers and PANI matrix. The Raman spectroscopy indicated the blue shift with increase in intensity of the band that confirms the decoration of AgNPs on the surface of the f-SWNTs. The structural behavior of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs nanocomposites was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of the face centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure of the AgNPs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evaluated the chemical composition and bond structure of the nanocomposites. The morphology of the nanocomposites is studied from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which displayed the well decoration of the AgNPs on the surface of the f-SWNTs. The thermal and dielectric properties of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs nanocomposites were examined by using thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), respectively. The thermal and dielectric properties of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs nanocomposites were significantly enhanced owing to the development of robust interphase interactions between the Ag@f-SWNTs hybrid nanofillers and PANI matrix that arises due to the homogeneous dispersion of the Ag@f-SWNTs nanohybrids within the PANI matrix through in situ polymerization process. The Cr(VI) metal ion sensing behavior of the PANI and PANI ternary nanocomposites was studied through UV-Vis spectroscopy, which indicates significant improvement in sensing behavior of the PANI/Ag@f-SWNTs ternary nanocomposites as compared to the pure PANI matrix.