Effect of multiwall carbon nanotubes surface on polymerization of aniline and properties of its products

The effect of surface of multiwall carbon nanotubes on the course of oxidative polymerization of aniline has been studied. In the presence of amorphous carbon fragments at the nanotubes surface, the polymerization at the monomer: nanotubes mass ratio of 10 : 1 yields the composite based on polyaniline and carbon nanotubes. At the same components ratio, carbon nanotubes purified of amorphous carbon inhibit polymerization of aniline, and the process results in oxidation of the nanotubes surface; however, at the lower purified nanotubes content the polymerization proceeds to give the polyaniline/nanotubes composite. Purification of the nanotubes of amorphous carbon significantly enhances electrochemical stability of their composites with polyaniline.