ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POLYMERIC MEMBRANE BY INCORPORATION OF CARBON NANOTUBES

초록

Electrically conductive polymeric membranes were prepared by adsorbing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) onto microbial cellulose membranes cultured by Acetobacter xylinum. To minimize the damage to the inherent properties of the individual nanotubes induced by the chemical modification, we chose to use a surfactant for the purpose of dispersing the MWNTs in water. Cationic cetyl trimethylammonium bromide was selected for the process of dispersing the MWNTs in water. Using electron microscopy, the individual MWNTs were found to strongly adhere to the surface and the inside of the cellulose membrane. We also investigated electrical conductivity of the cellulose membranes containing well-dispersed MWNTs.