Novel polyfuran/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites with improved conductivity: Chemical synthesis, characterization, and antioxidant activity

Abstract Novel composites containing very small quantities of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐COOH; 0.025, 0.050, and 0.075 g), and furan were synthesized via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The polymerization was carried out in nitromethane at room temperature using anhydrous iron (III) chloride (FeCl ₃ ) as an oxidant. The nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. All synthesized composites were crystalline and showed good solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide and N‐methyl 2‐pyrrolidone. The conductivity of composites was measured with a four‐probe method, and it was found that the electrical conductivity increased by increasing the amount of MWCNTs‐COOH. The maximum electrical conductivity value (6.68 × 10 ⁻⁴ S cm ⁻¹ ) was obtained for polyfuran/MWCNTs‐COOH (1:0.075, v/w). The resulting composites were analyzed for their antioxidant activity using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the composites increased by increasing the amount of MWCNTs‐COOH in nanocomposite. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers