High conducting multilayer films from poly(acrylic acid) and graphite by layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly

Abstract Exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets were modified by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C₁₆TAB) and were used for the construction of [poly(acrylic acid)/graphite]_n [(PAA/G)_n] multilayer films using a layer‐by‐layer (LBL) self‐assembly method. The film thickness was monitored using X‐ray diffraction technique; the results showed that the thickness depended on pH of PAA. Under a lower pH value such as 1.5, the average bilayer thickness was 1.5 nm. Once the pH of PAA was increased to 6.5, the bilayer thickness was around 30 nm. The C₁₆TAB modified (PAA/G)_n multilayer films showed high thermal stability and electrical conductivity. A percolation phenomenon occurred at bilayer number of 11, and the mechanism was discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers