Coatings based on conducting polymers and functionalized carbon nanotubes obtained by electropolymerization

Nanocomposite films based on polyaniline, functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes and different dopants were studied. These nanoporous composite films were grown electrochemically from aqueous solutions such that constituents were deposited simultaneously onto substrate electrode. The synthetic, morphological and electrical properties of the obtained nanocomposite films were compared. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the composite films consisted of nanoporous networks of SWCNTS (single-walled carbon nanotubes) coated with polymeric film. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that these composite films had similar electrochemical response rates to pure polymeric films but a lower resistance and much improved mechanical integrity. The negatively charged functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTSF) served as anionic dopant during the electropolymerization to synthesize polymer/CNTSF composite films. The specific electrochemical capacitance of the composite films is a significantly greater value than that for pure polymer films prepared similarly. Using these composite films, the modified electrodes with improved properties were obtained. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.