Preparation and characterization of a conducting nanocomposite of polyN-vinylcarbazole with acetylene black

N-Vinylcarbazole was polymerized by acetylene black alone in melt (∼65 °C) or in toluene medium and a polyN-vinylcarbazole–acetylene black composite was isolated from the reaction medium. The formation of polyN-vinylcarbazole and its presence in the composite was endorsed by FTIR analysis. The scanning electron micrographs of polyN-vinylcarbazole–acetylene black composite revealed formation of lumpy aggregates. Transmission electron microscopic analysis indicated that the composite comprised globular particles in the 100–200 nm range. Thermogravimetric analyses demonstrated the enhanced stability of the nanocomposite relative to the base polymer. The d.c. conductivity of the composite was in the order of 10−2 S cm−1, a value that was higher than the conductivity of the base polymer [10−12–10−16 S cm−1].