Raman spectroscopy of polystyrene nanofibers-Multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites

Raman spectroscopy investigations of nanofibers of polystyrene loaded with various amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes are reported. The modifications of the main Raman bands (D and G) of multiwalled carbon nanotubes due to their dispersion in polystyrene demonstrates and quantifies the stress transfer from the polymeric nanofiber matrix (polystyrene) to multiwalled carbon nanotubes. TGA data show an increase of the thermal stability of polystyrene nanofibers upon the loading with multiwalled carbon nanotubes, conforming Raman data.

Raman spectroscopy investigations of nanofibers of polystyrene loaded with various amounts of multiwalled carbon nanotubes are reported. The left panel shows the polystyrene nanofibers loaded with 1% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (top) and 10% multiwalled carbon nanotubes, respectively. It is noticed that the loading of polystyrene with multiwalled carbon nanotubes results in thinner nanofibers with smaller and fewer beads. The right panel shows the effect of the polymeric matrix on the D and G band of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Raman and TGA investigations substantiate the formation of an interface between multiwalled carbon nanotubes and polystyrene, which enhances the thermal stability of the polymeric matrix.Highlights► Raman lines of polystyrene nanofibers and nanofibers of polystyrene loaded with multiwalled carbon nanotube are extensively discussed. ► Raman lines have been successfully fitted by an extended Breit-Wigner-Fano lineshape. ► The stress transfer from polystyrene to multiwalled carbon nanotubes has been proved by Raman. ► TGA data showed an enhanced thermal stability of polystyrene nanofibers upon doping with multiwalled carbon nanotubes. ► Both TGA and Raman data suggests the formation of an interface between carbon nanotubes and macromolecular chains.