Synthesis, structural characterization, and tensile properties of fructose functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes/chitosan nanocomposite films

In this study, novel nanocomposite films of chitosan with fructose modified multi-walled carbon nanotube were prepared by solution casting technique. The fructose modified multi-walled carbon nanotube and the resulting bionanocomposite films were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The transmission electron microscopy showed that the presence of the functional moieties helped to improve the dispersion and compatibility of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the chitosan matrix. The tensile strength of bionanocomposite films was increased from 32MPa for the pure chitosan film up to 62.96MPa for the nanocomposite with 7wt% addition of fructose modified multi-walled carbon nanotube.