Flexible conductive poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene)/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites: Self-assembly and broadband electrical behavior

Flexible conductive nanocomposites with the ability of self-assembly into well-ordered structures are promising multifunctional materials for energy conversion and storage devices. In this work, flexible nanocomposites based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) were obtained by solution casting, followed by a post-annealing treatment, during 7 days at 110 degrees C, to enable the self-organization of the SBS. The impact of the MWCNTs on the self-assembly was studied by atomic force microscopy and Small angle X-rays scattering, and the conductivity of these nanocomposites was analyzed over the broadband frequency range, that is, 10(-1)-10(6) Hz. The results revealed that the lower MWCNTs loadings (approximate to 0.2 v %) were the most suitable to achieve a conductive network through the SBS, maintaining self-assembled domains. These domains include hexagonally packed cylinders and alternating lamellae. Furthermore, at loadings above 1 v %, the impact of further MWCNTs addition on the conductivity was marginal over the whole frequency range and the self-assembly tendency was progressively reduced. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46650. (AU)