CONDUCTIVE CARBON NANOTUBE-POLYMER COMPOSITE

摘要

A conductive carbon nanotube-polymer composite comprises carbon nanotubes and a polymer, wherein the carbon nanotubes primarily reside between coalesced particles of the polymer. The composite is prepared with a suspension of carbon nanotubes that can be stabilized with a stabilizer, such as a water-soluble polymer or surfactant. The nanotube suspension is mixed with a polymer suspension of polymer particles that substantially exclude the nanotubes. The polymer suspension can be stabilized with a stabilizer, such as a water-soluble polymer or surfactant. After mixing the two suspensions, water and any solvent are removed to form a nanotube-polymer composite. As liquid is removed from the nanotube-polymer suspension, the polymer particles coalesce and the nanotubes become trapped and aggregate primarily between the polymer particles, wherein the nanotubes form a conductive network in the polymer composite. Electrical percolation was realized with less than 0.04 wt% single-wall carbon nanotubes in poly(vinyl acetate).