AFM characterization of polydicarbazole-Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube composites

A novel oxidative liquid phase polymerization (LPP) method enabled the preparation of multiphase non-pegylated and pegylated polycarbazole (polyCbz)-Multi Walled Carbon-Nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposites that possessed controlled topologically differentiated morphologies. More particularly, the polyCbz phase might be grown onto the MWCNT sidewalls (non-pegylated MWCNTs) and/or selectively at MWCNT extremities only (pegylated MWCNTs). The Atomic Force Microscopy/HarmoniX AFM analysis of all these new multi-phase polyCbz-MWCNT nanocomposites disclosed their surface properties, such as their component phase boundaries/locations, stiffnesses, and adhesion features at an unequaled atomic scale of resolution.