Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PEDOT/MWCNTs) nanocomposites by using the magnetic ionic liquid as the medium and oxidant was prepared. Firstly, the MWCNTs was mechanically dispersed into the magnetic ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate ([bmim]FeCl₄) to form [bmim]FeCl₄/MWCNTs gel. Then the 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer was added into the gel and in situ polymerized under the oxidation of . The PEDOT/MWCNTs nanocomposites with different content of MWCNTs were synthesized via ball milling. The structure and morphology of the PEDOT/MWCNTs nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical properties of the PEDOT/MWCNTs nanocomposites were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄. The conductivity of the composites was measured by four-point probe measurement. The thermal stability was analysed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that the PEDOT uniformly coated on the surface of MWCNTs and form the PEDOT/MWCNTs nanocomposites with core-shell structure. The conjugated interaction between PEDOT and MWCNTs was enhanced with the increase of the MWCNTs content in the PEDOT/MWCNTs. When 30% MWCNTs was added, the conductivity of the PEDOT/MWCNTs nanocomposite could be up to 7.46 S/cm and had the good electrochemical activity. When 10% MWCNTs was added, the thermal stability of the PEDOT/MWCNTs nanocomposite was obviously improved compared with that of PEDOT.

Key words: magnetic ionic liquid, multi-walled carbon nanotube, PEDOT/MWCNTs, nanocomposite, ball milling