Core–shell functionalized MWCNT/poly(m‐aminophenol) nanocomposite with large dielectric permittivity and low dielectric loss

Core–shell carboxyl‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (c‐MWCNT)/poly(m‐aminophenol) (PmAP) nanocomposite were prepared through in‐situ polymerization of m‐aminophenol (m‐AP) in the presence of MWCNTs, and explicated as a dielectric material for electronic applications. The formation of thin PmAP layer on individual c‐MWCNT with excellent molecular level interactions at interfaces was confirmed by morphological and spectroscopic analyses. Here we conducted a comparative study of the dielectric performances of PmAP based nanocomposite films with pristine MWCNTs and c‐MWCNTs as fillers. Compared to PmAP/MWCNT nanocomposites, the PmAP/c‐MWCNT nanocomposites exhibited higher dielectric permittivity and lower dielectric loss. The well dispersed c‐MWCNTs in PmAP/c‐MWCNT nanocomposite produce huge interfacial area together with numerous active polarized centers (crystallographic defects), which in turn intensified the Maxwell‐Wagner‐Sillars (MWS) effect based on excellent molecular level interactions and thus, produce large dielectric permittivity (8810 at 1 kHz). The percolation threshold of PmAP/c‐MWCNT nanocomposites is found lower than that of the PmAP/MWCNT nanocomposites, which could be attributed to homogeneous distribution of c‐MWCNTs and strong c‐MWCNT//PmAP interfacial interactions in the nanocomposites. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.