Synthesis of Polymer Nanocomposite Films

Abstract

Polymer nanocomposites are employed in (micro)electronic, biomedical, structural, and optical applications. In the past decade, polymer has generated much interest internationally for its potential to solve a wide variety of industry problem in nanotechnology and electronics devices. In recent times greater focus has been placed upon polymer thin films which play an increasingly important role in technological applications ranging from coatings, adhesives, and lithography to organic light-emitting diodes and various organic material-based devices, including sensors and detectors. The nature of the nanoparticle (NP)-polymer interface plays a crucial role in determining flow, thermal, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites (PNC). The recent development of nanoscale fillers, such as carbon nanotube, graphene, and nanocellulose, allows the functionality of polymer nanocomposites to be controlled and enhanced. During fabrication of nanocomposites, it is necessary to find ways to improve the interaction between the polymer and the synthesized nanoparticles and to improve the incorporation of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix; hence, there is no general way to fabricate nanocomposites with homogeneous dispersion, which leads to steps of optimization at various levels to achieve the required properties.

Several synthesis techniques were employed to synthesize the mixed (nanocomposite)-CNT membranes, these techniques will be shown in this chapter. The most common methods are phase inversion, interfacial polymerization, solution mixing, spray-assisted layer-by-layer technique, polymer grafting, in situ polymerization, and in situ colloidal precipitation.