Fabrication and Characterization of Functionalized Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Flexible Network Modified by a Layer of Polypyrrole Conductive Polymer and Metallic Nanoparticles

Abstract

Short Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes functionalized with OH group (MWCNTs-OH) were used to synthesize flexible MWCNTs networks. The MWCNTs suspension was synthesized using Benzoquinone (BQ) and N, N Dimethylformamide alcohol (DMF) in specific values and then deposited on filter paper by filtration from suspension (FFS) method. Polypyrrole (PPy) conductive polymer doped with metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) prepared using in-situ chemical polymerization method. To improve the properties of the MWCNTs networks, a coating layer of (PPy) conductive polymer, PPy:Ag nanoparticles, and PPy: Cu nanoparticles were applied to the network. The fabricated networks were characterized using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), UV-Vis. spectrometer, and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). XRD results revealed that the broadening for the (002) peak decreased after being coated with PPy and increased for the doped samples with MNPs, indicating on decrease in the crystalline size (MWCNTs/PPy) sample and increasing for doped ones with Ag and Cu MNPs. AFM images revealed that the surface roughness of the MWCNTs-OH network decreased after being coated with PPy, PPy: Ag, and PPy: Cu. With the help of AFM and XRD results, the CNTs contain 14 layers, while the inner and outer diameters were 18.2 nm and 27 nm receptivity. The UV-Vis. spectrum of MWCNTs showed several peaks, the highest in the 350 nm range. The coated of MWCNTs greatly affected the absorption spectrum, with many bands appearing between 300 to 450 nm and increasing the absorbance along the overall spectrum. For samples doped with Ag NPs and Cu NPs, a weak absorption peak of the plasmonic resonance frequency of the metallic nanoparticles. Analysis of Raman spectra shows that (ID/IG) ratios for all networks are less than one, which prove that the fabricated networks have few impurities and have good homogeneity. This work aimed to synthesize and characterize a flexible MWCNTs network and develop it by coated with a layer of conductive polymer and metallic nanoparticles for gas sensing application using quick and straightforward preparation methods.