Double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT)–poly(3-octylthiophene) (P3OT) composites: Electrical, optical and structural investigations

In the present study, we report experiments based on in situ polymerization of 3-octylthiophene with DWCNT and many hitherto unstudied properties for the first time. The specialty of DWCNT being the inner tube retaining its intrinsic electronic and optical properties, while the outer tube could be involved in the composite formation. From the IR aromatic and out-of-plane C–H stretching frequencies, the interaction between the polymer and the nanotubes is probed. Further to this absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence and Raman measurements were carried out to characterize the composites. The conductivity contributions of the nanotubes and Hall voltage measurements are used to understand the utility of the composites for solar cell applications.