Thermal ageing of electrical conductivity in carbon nanotube/polyaniline composite films

The influence of carbon nanotubes on the thermal ageing effect of the electrical conductivity of composite thin films is presented. The composite thin films comprise carbon nanotube/polyaniline nanofibers. When subject to thermal treatment, the presence of nanotubes retards the loss of dopants from the polyaniline and enhances the thermal stability in electrical conductivity of the composite thin films. Specifically, an increase in temperature for the conductivity degradation and a significant reduction in the rate of the conductivity degradation of the composite thin films are observed. Upon prolonged heating, the composite thin films exhibit relative large conductivity at high nanotube content, while the polyaniline thin films become insulating. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.