Effect of Fe3O4loading on the conductivities of carbon nanotube/chitosan composite films

Nanocomposite films were made by a simple solution casting method in which multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and magnetite nanoparticles ( $Fe_3O_4$ ) were used as dopant materials to enhance the electrical conductivity of chitosan nanocomposite films. The films contained fixed CNT concentrations (5, 8, and 10 wt%) and varying $Fe_3O_4$ content. It was determined that a 1:1 ratio of CNT to $Fe_3O_4$ provided optimal conductivity according to dopant material loading. X-ray diffraction patterns for the nanocomposite films, were determined to investigate their chemical and phase composition, revealed that nanoparticle agglomeration occurred at high $Fe_3O_4$ loadings, which hindered the synergistic effect of the doping materials on the conductivity of the films.