Synthesis and characterizations of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and modified carbon nanotube composites

Abstract

Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and modified (functionalized and silanized) multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites have been prepared through in situ polymerization process in chloroform medium with FeCl3 oxidant at room temperature. The composites are characterized through Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements to probe the nature of interaction between the moieties. Optical properties of the composites are measured from ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Conductivity of the composites is followed by four probe techniques to understand the conduction mechanism. The change (if any) in C=C symmetric and antisymmetric stretching frequencies in FT-IR, the shift in G band frequencies in Raman, any alterations in λ max of UV-Vis, and PL spectroscopic measurements are monitored with modified MWNT loading in the polymer matrix. Copyright © 2012 Mohammad Rezaul Karim.