Enhanced Charge Transport in MWCNT/MoS₂/Chitosan Nanocomposites for Flexible Electronics and Energy Devices.

In recent years, ternary hybrid nanomaterials combining of carbon allotropes, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and biopolymers have attracted significant attention for next-generation energy and optoelectronics. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a novel hybrid material consisting of one-dimensional (1D) large-diameter multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT, 100–120 nm diameter), two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), and a biodegradable chitosan matrix. Prepared via a liquid-phase integration technique, the ternary nanocomposite ensures a uniform distribution of constituents within the biopolymer network, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR, Raman and XRD analysis. Specifically, MoS₂/chitosan and MWCNT/MoS₂/chitosan hybrids were successfully synthesized and investigated to evaluate their structural, thermal, and synergistic properties.

The primary focus is evaluating the material's electrical and optical responses. AC conductivity measurements revealed significant enhancement in electrical conductivity compared to pure chitosan and binary counterparts, as the MWCNTs effectively bridge isolated MoS₂ domains to form a continuous percolating network. Notably, the DC electrical properties and AC conductivity show highly efficient results, facilitating superior charge carrier transport. Furthermore, UV-Vis, Thermoelectric and Photoelectric measurements demonstrated a tunable optical bandgap and suppressed electron-hole recombination rates due to rapid charge separation. These combined improvements suggest that the eco-friendly carbon nanorod/MoS₂/chitosan nanocomposite holds great promise for sustainable applications in flexible electronics, photodetectors, and optoelectronic sensors.

Acknowledgment: This research was funded by Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University within the framework of its internal grant competition (Project No. ED-04/2025).