A General Strategy to Disperse and Functionalize Carbon Nanotubes Using Conjugated Block Copolymers

    Authors

    J. H. Zou; S. I. Khondaker; Q. Huo;L. Zhai

    Abstract

    A general strategy to disperse and functionalize pristine carbon nanotubes in a single-step process is developed using conjugated block copolymers. The conjugated block copolymer contains two blocks: a conjugated polymer block of poly(3-hexylthiophene), and a functional non-conjugated block with tunable composition. When the pristine carbon nanotubes are sonicated with the conjugated block copolymers, the poly (3-hexylthiophene) blocks bind to the surface of de-bundled carbon nanotubes through non-covalent pi-pi interactions, stabilizing the carbon nanotube dispersion, while the functional blocks locate at the outer surface of carbon nanotubes, rendering the carbon nanotubes with desired functionality. In this paper, conjugate block copolymers of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate), poly (3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(acrylic acid), and poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate) are used to demonstrate this general strategy.

    Journal Title

    Advanced Functional Materials

    Volume

    19

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    First Page

    479

    Last Page

    483

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000263640600026

    ISSN

    1616-301X

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