Preparation of conductive coating base on polymerizable carbon nanotubes modified by polythiophene derivatives

PMTA-CNT coating’s rapid repairing of conductor fracture to light up the LED lamp bead in a simulated application experiment. • Surface-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with covalently bonded acrylate groups were developed, enabling their participation in free radical polymerization (e.g., UV curing). • The three-dimensional interconnected network of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) significantly improves the coating’s abrasion and solvent resistance. • The polythiophene derivative modification of CNT only caused a 6.67% decrease in the electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotubes.The electrical conductivity of PMTA-CNT reaches 3333 s/m. • PMTA-CNT can serve as the main material for making UV-curable conductive coating, unlike traditional CNT which can only serve as an additive. The PMTA-CNT coating has been successfully used for rapidly repairing broken conductor in the simulated application experiment Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess exceptional intrinsic electrical conductivity. However, their limited thermoplastic processability compared to polymeric materials necessitates surface functionalization for additive integration. This requirement presents a paradox: traditional functionalization methods typically result in significant conductivity loss in CNT/polymer composites.To overcome this limitation, we developed an innovative two-step strategy. First, a thiophene-based polymer (PMTA) incorporating acrylic esters was synthesized. Second, acrylate-functionalized CNTs (CNT-AR) were prepared through controlled esterification. The covalent bonding between PMTA and CNT-AR (PMTA-CNT) achieved excellent dispersion stability in organic solvents while maintaining high conductivity of 3333 S/m. notably, this functionalization induced only 6.67 % conductivity loss, the lowest value reported for modified CNTs to date.The acrylate moieties on CNTs enable direct participation in free-radical polymerization, facilitating the formation of three-dimensional polymer networks. This structural transformation redefines the role of CNTs from passive fillers to integral structural components. The resulting three-dimensional interconnected network significantly enhances the abrasion and solvent resistance of the coating. Leveraging these structural advantages, we developed a PMTA-CNT composite coating and systematically characterized its electrical properties. Building upon this foundation, we employed 3D printing technology to fabricate PMTA-CNT flexible circuits on PI films and simulated circuit breakage and repair, demonstrating the material’s potential for practical applications.