Polyaniline/silver decorated‐MWCNT composites with enhanced electrical and thermal properties

Conducting polyaniline (PANI) composites reinforced with pristine Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and silver decorated MWCNTs (Ag‐MWCNTs) were fabricated via in situ polymerization method. These composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), conductivity measurements and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). FTIR and UV‐Vis spectra confirmed the successful polymerization of aniline on the surface of Ag‐MWCNTs. SEM showed uniform dispersion of MWCNTs into PANI matrix with a few coarse patches. Studies of electrical conductivity revealed that Ag‐MWCNT, as filler, is more effective in enhancing the electrical conductivity of PANI. The maximum conductivity of PANI/Ag‐MWCNTs composites was almost two times, i.e., 11.9 Scm−1 for composites having only 2% fillers as compared to that of PANI/MWCNTs having 4% filler, i.e., 5.7 Scm−1. Thus, PANI/Ag‐MWCNTs composites are thermally more stable than PANI/MWCNTs composites due to better interaction between PANI and Ag‐MWCNTs. The results of TGA suggest that PANI‐MWCNTs composites showed 12 to 15% higher weight loss than that of PANI/Ag‐MWCNTs composites. Also, PANI had lower thermal stability than its composites with MWCNTs and Ag‐MWCNTs. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1346–E1353, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers