Conducting polymer functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes with noble metal nanoparticles: Synthesis, morphological characteristics and electrical properties

We report the synthesis of conducting polyaniline-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-f-PANI) containing noble metal (Au and Ag) nanoparticles composites (MWCNTs-f-PANI-Au or Ag-NC). MWCNTs-f-PANI was initially synthesized by functionalizing acyl chloride terminated carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COCl) with 2,5-diaminobenzenesulphonic acid (DABSA) via amide bond formation, followed by surface initiated in situ chemical oxidative graft polymerization of aniline in the presence of the ammonium persulphate (APS) as an oxidizing agent. MWCNTs-f-PANI was then dispersed into an aqueous Au or Ag metal salt solution followed by the addition of sodium citrate, which acted as a reducing agent. The resulting composite contained a high level of well dispersed Au or Ag nanoparticles (MWCNTs-f-PANI/Au-NC or MWCNTs-f-PANI-Ag-NC). Morphological and structural characteristics, as well as electrical conducting properties of the hybrid nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques including high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) and four-probe measurements. FT-IR spectra confirmed that PANI was covalently bonded to MWCNTs. TEM images revealed the presence of Au or Ag nanoparticles finely dispersed in the composites with a size of <15 nm. XRD analysis revealed the presence of strong interactions between the metal nanoparticles and MWCNTs-f-PANI, where the metal particles were present in a phase-pure crystalline state with face centered cubic (fcc) structure. The room temperature electrical conductivity of the MWNCTs-f-PANI/Au or Ag composites was 4.8–5.0 S/cm, respectively, which was much higher than that of CNTs-f-PANI (0.18 S/cm) or pure PANI (2.5 × 10−3 S/cm). A plausible mechanism for the formation of nanocomposites is presented. We expect that the new synthesis strategy reported here will be applicable for the synthesis of other hybrid CNTs–polymer/metal nanocomposites with diverse functionalities. This new type of hybrid nanocomposite material may have numerous applications in nanotechnology, gas sensing, and catalysis.