The production of aligned MWCNT/polypyrrole composite films

We synthesized highly porous composite films of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and polypyrrole (PPy) by employing a simple in situ electropolymerisation process from aqueous pyrrole solutions. By contacting the entire CNT array, each CNT acts as a highly active anode that facilitates uniform deposition and immediate polymerization of pyrrole directly on the CNT surface. As a result, each individual CNT was coated with a thin layer of PPy with a tunable thickness between 4 and 38 nm. At the same time the vertical array structure of the CNTs was preserved. A major advantage of this route is that the resulting composite film is highly porous and can be post-filled with other polymers, metals or ceramics to create new multifunctional composites and hybrid structures.