Electrochemical polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) using functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes

We report on the synthesis and characteristics of polypyrrole (PPy) nanowires and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films by using functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (F-SWCNTs). The F-SWCNTs were prepared by the process of ultrasonication of SWCNTs mixture with nitric and sulfuric acid (3:1 volume ratio) solution. The F-SWCNTs has the pending carboxylic acid group ({single bond}COOH). The PPy nanowires and bulky P3HT film were electrochemically polymerized based on the Al₂O₃ nanoporous template and on the ITO glass, respectively, by using the F-SWCNTs as a dopant in electrolyte. We compared the structural characteristics between the arc-grown SWCNTs and the F-SWCNTs through a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscope, a Raman spectroscope, an X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and an elemental analysis. The formation of PPy nanowires and bulky P3HT film were confirmed through SEM and FT-IR experiments.