Spectroscopic and electrochemical study of hybrids containing conductive polymers and carbon nanotubes

We report the preparation and characterization of hybrid materials from conducting polymers and single walled carbon nanotubes. Electrochemical polymerization yields nanotubes wrapped by conducting polymers – polyaniline, polycarbazole and melanin (i.e., polydopamine). The materials were characterized by ultraviolet–visible–near infrared, infrared, Raman and impedance spectroscopy. We found that wrapping the nanotubes with polymers can decrease the impedance of such composite electrode and increase the rate of electron transfer from the electrolyte to the electrode. From the attenuation of in-plane vibrations in the infrared spectra and the bathochromically shifted polaron band, we infer that the strongest interaction occurs between polyaniline and the nanotube surface.