Morphology Studies of SWCNT Dispersed in Conducting Polymer as Potential Sensing Materials

Novel electronic nanomaterial, the carbon nanotube (CNT) has emerged in many sensor applications as such its state dispersion has considerable importance to ensure the sustainability of its electronic properties. In this paper, we reported a state of art conductivity mapping on nanostructure surface of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl), (P3HT) as potential sensing film. This composite is proposed to give selective analyte anchoring across the film as well as improved carrier mobility. The easy solution processing method was chosen to produce non-covalently wrapped conducting polymer onto the surface of SWCNT. We successfully observed high resolution images of the SWCNT walls that indicated increase of the thickness due to polymer wrapping. The image obtained from conductivity atomic force microscopy (CAFM) show the film’s electrical distribution that correlated with the observed nanostructure of film. Supporting optical characteristics of the nanocomposite obtained from UV-Vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy discussed the morphology of the polymer wrapping and the state of dispersion of the polymer and the nanotubes. It is hypothesized the filament structures made by P3HT/SWCNT can give better sensing performance due to modification of π-π electronic band of SWCNT.</jats:p

Effect of reaction time on the structure and optical properties of P3HT/MWCNT-OH nanocomposites

In the present study, stereoregular poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) coated hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OH) nanocomposites were prepared over different reaction times of non-covalent functionalization. The reaction time was set as 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. The structure and optical characteristics of nanocomposites were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, respectively. Reaction time affected prepared nanocomposites by decreasing the intensity of the P3HT/MWCNT-OH peaks gradually with increasing of the reaction time. Comparing with the pure P3HT and MWCNT-OH, the calculated energy band gap and the Urbach energy of the nanocomposites were reduced proportionally as the reaction time reached 120 hours and achieved 2.60 and 0.329 eV, respectively.</jats:p

Wpływ czasu reakcji na strukturę i właściwości optyczne nanokompozytów P3HT/MWCNT-OH

In the present study, regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) coated hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OH) nanocomposites were prepared over different reaction times of non-covalent functionalization. The reaction time was set as 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. The structure and optical characteristics of nanocomposites were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, respectively. Reaction time affected prepared nanocomposites by decreasing the intensity of the P3HT/MWCNT-OH peaks gradually with increasing of the reaction time. Comparing with the pure P3HT and MWCNT-OH, the calculated energy band gap and the Urbach energy of the nanocomposites were reduced proportionally as the reaction time reached 120 hours and achieved 2.60 and 0.329 eV, respectively.Syntetyzowano hydroksylowane wielościenne nanorurki węglowe (MWCNT-OH) pokryte stereoregularnym poli(3-heksylotiofen-2,5-diylu) (P3HT) oraz zbadano wpływ czasu reakcji niekowalencyjnej funkcjonalizacji na strukturę i właściwości optyczne otrzymanego nanokompozytu. Czas reakcji wynosił 24, 48, 72, 96 i 120 godzin. W badaniach wykorzystano spektroskopię w podczerwieni z transformacją Fouriera (FTIR) oraz ultrafioletową UV-Vis. Wraz ze wzrostem czasu reakcji następowało stopniowe zmniejszenie intensywności pików P3HT/MWCNT-OH. W porównaniu z P3HT i MWCNT-OH obliczona przerwa energetyczna i energia Urbacha zmniejszały się wraz z wydłużeniem czasu reakcji i osiągnęły odpowiednio 2,60 i 0,329 eV przy czasie reakcji 120 godzin