Aerogels from polypyrrole/carbon nanotubes-based polymeric blends

Abstract

Novel silica aerogels were produced from carbon nanotubes/carbon black/polypyrrole (NTC/CB/PPy) blends, and their structure characterized by FT-IR analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the presence of amorphous silica and a new reflection at 2θ = 13°, which had not been reported before. SEM micrographs of the aerogels reveal the connectivity of the micropores of the material, along with the different fillers (NTC/CB/PPy), which allow to increase the water absorption of the aerogels and to increase thermal stability. The mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting aerogels are significantly better than those of similar materials reported in the literature.