A conducting nanocomposite of crosslinked poly-N-vinylcarbazole (CLPNVC) with nanodimensional acetylene black (AB) was prepared by oxidative crosslinking of preformed PNVC through pendant carbazole moieties in presence of anhydrous FeCl3 as an oxidant and AB suspension in CHCl3 medium at 65 degrees C. The incorporation of CLPNVC moieties in the CLPNVC-AB composite was endorsed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. Scanning electron microscopic analysis showed formation of lumpy aggregates with average sizes in the 130-330 mn ranges. The thermal stability of the CLPNVC-AB composite was appreciably higher than that of the PNVC-AB composite. The direct current conductivities of the composites were significantly enhanced relative to that of the PNVC homopolymer (10(-12)-10(-16) S/cm) and varied in the range of 10(-4)-10(-2) S/cm depending on the amount of AB loading in the CLPNVC-AB composite. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.