Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaniline Grafted Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Loaded Nafion-Silica Nanocomposite Membrane

Abstract

The preparation and characterization results of a new nanocomposite, polyaniline (PANI) grafted multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) loaded Nafion-silica, (designated as Nafion-silica/MWNT-g-PANI), are reported in this paper. The preparation involves the formation of a silica network in a Nafion membrane and the subsequent loading of polyaniline-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT-g-PANI) onto the Nafion-silica nanocomposite. The new nanocomposite, Nafion-silica/ MWNT-g-PANI, was characterized as to its morphology, structure and properties. The conductivity and methanol permeability of the nanocomposite membranes were evaluated.