The Influence of Reaction Time on Non-Covalent Functionalisation of P3HT/MWCNT Nanocomposites

Abstract

Non-covalent functionalisation of the carbon nanotube (CNT) sidewall through polymer wrapping is the key strategy for improving well-dispersed CNTs without persistent alteration of their electronic properties. In this work, the effect of reaction time on regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT)-wrapped hydroxylated multi-walled CNT (MWCNT-OH) nanocomposites was investigated. Five different reaction times (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) were conducted at room temperature in order to clearly determine the factors that influenced the quality of wrapped MWCNT-OH. Morphological analysis using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopic (FESEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) analysis showed that P3HT successfully wrapped the MWCNT-OH sidewall, evidenced by the changes in the mean diameter size of the nanocomposites. Results obtained from Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) as well as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) showed a significant effect of the wrapped polymer on the CNT sidewall as the reaction time increased. Overall, the method used during the preparation of P3HT-wrapped MWCNT-OH and the presented results significantly provided a bottom-up approach to determine the effect of different reaction times on polymer wrapping to further expand this material for novel applications, especially chemical sensors.

Mechanical Performance and Applications of CNTs Reinforced Polymer Composites—A Review

“… ( a ) Schematic diagram of SWCNT and MWCNT (reproduced from [ 35 ]) and ( b ) the MWCNT wrapped with poly(3-hexylthiophene). Reproduced from [ 37 ]. …”

Molecular Weight-Dependent Physical and Photovoltaic Properties of Poly(3-alkylthiophene)s with Butyl, Hexyl, and Octyl Side-Chains

“…Poly-3-alkylthiophenes (P3ATs) have been intensively investigated and developed for use in various organic electronic devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes [ 1 ], organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ], and organic field-effect transistors [ 7 , 8 ], because of their easy deposition from solution onto various types of substrates and low preparation cost [ 9 ]. In OPVs, the polymer is known to be an effective semiconducting material with a relatively high hole mobility [ 10 , 11 , 12 ] and self-assembly capacity [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Characterizations of MWCNTs Nanofluids on the Effect of Surface Oxidative Treatments

“…Due to the black characteristics of carbon particles of MWCNTs, a pre-preparation of samples needs to be performed using a very low concentration of carbon particles in a potassium bromide (kBr) powder with a ratio of 1:9 and pressed into a disc shape. While, the structural analysis through Raman spectroscopic measurement was carried out according to Nurazzi et al (2021) [ 22 ], using a Renishaw inVia Reflex Confocal Micro Raman System (Renishaw plc, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, UK). The HPNIR laser for sample excitation was set at a wavelength of 787 nm, 1200 mm −1 gratings, and the magnification is 100× objective lens.…”

“…Although the sensorial material has shown a good performance of hydrogen isotope sensing and quantification, further testing is foreseen on a higher number of sensors than considered in this study, variation of loading ratios for Pd onto MWCNTs in order to establish the most suitable one, tests for assessing the chemical stability, the reproducibility and mechanical stress in extreme conditions which either high or low temperatures [ 18 ]. Other than that, MWCNTs also has been widely used as sensing materials for toxic gases [ 19 ], as structural reinforcements [ 20 , 21 ], and have improved the thermal stability and electrical conductivity of the polymer nanocomposites [ 22 , 23 ].…”