Electrically Conductive Polymeric Nanocomposites Prepared in Alcohol Dispersion of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

In this study, electrically conductive microspheres were prepared by the adsorption of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the surfaces of polymeric microspheres (polystyrene and poly(methylmethacrylate)) in MWCNT-dispersed alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol) without surfactants. The stability of the MWCNT dispersions was measured using a recently developed multiple light scattering measurement instrument (Turbiscan). The individual MWCNTs on the surfaces of the microspheres were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The contents of MWCNTs in the composites were determined by thermogravimetric analysis and were found to range from 1.6 wt% to 4.5 wt%. The electrical conductivity and surface charge of the composite microspheres were also investigated.

Acknowledgments

The authors of this paper would like to thank the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) for sponsoring this research through the SRC/ERC Program of MOST/KOSEF (R11-2005-065).