Synthesis of conducting polythiophene composites with multi-walled carbon nanotube by the γ-radiolysis polymerization method

Composites of conducting polythiophene (PTh) with the host filler multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) have been synthesized by the in situ γ-radiation-induced chemical polymerization method at room temperature. The resultant cable-like morphology of the composite (PTh–MWNT) structures was characterized by field-emission–scanning electron microscopy with the energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The characterizations of the molecular structure of the PTh–MWNT composites indicated that interfacial entrapment occurred between the MWNT and PTh; and the MWNT functioned as a template for PTh polymerization. The standard four-point probe method was utilized for measuring the conductivity of the samples. The conductivity through the PTh–MWNT composites was much higher than the value obtained for the bulk PTh powders synthesized by the same method. The PTh–MWNT composites showed improved thermogravimetric stability compared to the PTh homopolymer in the temperature range 0–800 °C.