Investigation of carbon nanotube/polyaniline nanocomposite thin films produced by interfacial polymerization through electron desorption

Electron stimulated ion desorption (ESID) studies have been performed on polyaniline and nanocomposites thin films made of polyaniline (PANI) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) at different CNT/PANI ratios. PANI and nanocomposites ESID spectra show similar profile and exhibit desorption due mostly to polymer fragments, which agrees well with previous morphological studies on these materials that suggest that the nanotubes are highly disperse and involved by the polymer. Although similar, the spectra present shifts in the direction of greater time of flights for higher amounts of the carbon nanotube composites. This behavior may reflect the strong interaction between PANI and carbon nanotubes, evidenced by the increase in conductivity as the concentration of carbon nanotubes is increased, which could also be evaluated by the ESID technique. Specific polymer fragments could be identified, and used as fingerprint for PANI due to electron impact. Ion yield curves have been determined as a function of the electron energy, and the results discussed in terms of the production of secondary electrons.