Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 120
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-20628-y

Regular Article

Peculiarities of Raman spectra of polyurethane/carbon nanotube composite

¹ Faculty of Physics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev, Volodymyrs’ka str., 60, 010601 Kiev, Ukraine
² Materials Science and Engineering Department, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, 49008 MI, USA
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, 63130 MO, USA

^a e-mail: anaumenko@univ.kiev.ua

Received: 2 August 2011
Published online: 18 April 2012

Abstract

We present a detailed analysis of the Raman spectra of polyurethane (PU)/single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) composites obtained at room temperature using 488 and 514.5 nm laser excitation. The spectra reveal a significant influence of the polymeric matrix on the carbon nanotube bundles. The nanocomposite Raman bands become broader and are shifted to higher frequencies in comparison to the corresponding bands of the pristine SWCNT bundles. Redistribution of intensity in the vicinity of a G-band and an increase of splitting of the radial breathing mode are also observed for the nanocomposites. Various spectral features of SWCNT clearly indicate the large interfacial interaction of the PU matrix and the SWCNT, possibly due to the π-π stacking between the PU chains and the SWCNT.