Enhanced optical and electrical properties of PEDOT: PSS films by the addition of MWCNT-sorbitol

A thin layer of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) presents a strong candidate for application as a transparent conducting electrode and a high frequency Schottky diode. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified using nitric acid to form –OH and –COOH groups on the MWCNT surface. Functionalized MWCNTs (FMWCNTs) were further modified using sorbitol molecules. N, N′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) was utilized as an activating agent for carboxylic acids in a homogeneous one-pot reaction of FMWCNTs in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). The activated FMWCNTs were mixed with sorbitol and heated up to 60 °C with stirring. Due to the mild conditions and efficiency of the reaction, a large amount of sorbitol molecules were covalently attached with increasing reaction time. The FMWCNTs with sorbitol (FMWCNTSORs) were mixed with poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The FMWCNTSORs were homogeneously dispersed into PEDOT:PSS solution without any precipitation. The FMWCNTSORs/PEDOT:PSS film showed stronger FTIR absorption peaks in the case of samples reacted for longer time. The UV–vis transmittance and the conductivity of the FMWCNTSORs/PEDOT:PSS film was increased as the reaction time increased. Although the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) surface image of the 2 h reacted FMWCNTSORs/PEDOT:PSS film showed large number of small aggregated particles, only a small number of aggregated particles was found for the sample reacted for 6 h. These results indicate that the appropriate amount of sorbitol molecules on the MWCNT can increase the conductivity and transmittance of the PEDOT:PSS film.