The synthesis of covalent bonded single-walled carbon nanotube/polyvinylimidazole composites by in situ polymerization and their physical characterization

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) polyvinylimidazole (PVI) composites have been prepared by in situ emulsion polymerization. Dispersion of raw SWCNTs in the PVI matrix was improved by surface modification of the SWCNTs using nitric acid treatment and air oxidation. The carbonyl-terminated SWCNTs were covalently bonded to PVI by in situ polymerization and the SWCNT/PVI composite was thus obtained. The morphological and structural characterizations of the surface-functionalized SWCNTs and SWCNT/PVI composites were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, conductivity measurements, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Thermograms of the materials were determined by the differential scanning calorimetry technique. The characterization results indicate that PVI was covalently bonded to SWCNTs and a new material was then obtained. The functionalized SWCNTs showed homogenous dispersion in the composites, whereas purified SWCNT resulted in poor dispersion and nanotube agglomeration. SWCNT/PVI composites exhibited chemical stability enhancement in many common solvents. IV curves of the samples exhibit an ohmic character. Conductivity values for pure SWCNTs, pure PVI and SWCNT/PVI composite were measured to be 3.47, 2.11 X 10-9, and 2.3 X 10-3 S/m, respectively. Because of resonance, a large dielectric constant is obtained for SWCNT/PVI composite, which is not observed for ordinary materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (c) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers