Fabrication of composite films by controlling molecular doping processes between polyaniline and soluble multiwalled nanotubes and their optical characteristics

An efficient approach to composite film fabrication that involves the control of doping processes between soluble multiwalled nanotubes (s-MWNTs) and polyaniline (PAN) molecules has been developed in this work. The s-MWNTs were prepared by introducing carboxylic acid and sulfonic acid groups to the surfaces of nanotubes. The s-MWNT was used as a dopant to react with the imine nitrogens of emeraldine PAN via the protonation doping process in a layer-by-layer manner. The resultant composite films on the quartz substrates were characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron micrograph and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that s-MWNTs were doped into polyaniline layers, which caused changes in the composite film characteristics such as electrical properties, spectroscopic features and morphology. Unlike the already-used layer-by-layer process based on electrostatic attraction, our process is based on the acid-base reaction between emeraldine and s-MWNT. Owing to the protonation doping, the bond between the carboxyl group and the imine nitrogen group becomes covalent, which enhances the stability of the film.