Polymer Brushes on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of n-Butyl Methacrylate

Nanocapsules based on carbon nanotubes-graft-polyglycerol hybrid materials

In this work the effect of a conjugated macromolecule on the conformation of CNT was studied. Typically polyglycerol (PG) was covalently grafted onto the surface of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and MWCNT-graft-PG (MWCNT- g-PG) hybrid materials were obtained. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments showed an average diameter around 100 nm for MWCNT- g-PG hybrid materials in water. The difference between this size and the expected size for MWCNT- g-PG hybrid materials (the length of pristine MWCNTs was several micrometers) was assigned to the effect of the grafted PG on the conformation of MWCNT in the solution state. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) evaluations showed a change in the shape and conformation of MWCNT- g-PG hybrid materials during the time so that they were in a core-shell shape in a fresh sample but over time they changed to dendritic- and finally nanocapsule-like structures. According to ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) experiments it was found that MWCNT- g-PG hybrid materials were able to encapsulate small guest molecules such as ferrocene, confirming nanocapsule-like structures for hybrid materials in the solution state. Based on these observations it was suggested that non-covalent interactions between highly hydrophilic PG and highly hydrophobic MWCNT led to changes in the conformation of MWCNT from a linear to nonlinear state. In order to investigate the role of hydroxyl end functional groups of PG as being responsible for non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, they were reacted with opened MWCNTs (MWCNT-COOH) to achieve MWCNT- g-PG- g-(MWCNT)n structures. TEM images showed an extended conformation for MWCNT- g-PG- g-(MWCNT)n hybrid materials which confirmed the key role of hydroxyl end functional groups of PG on the conformation of MWCNTs. To evaluate the ability of MWCNT- g-PG- g-(MWCNT)n hybrid materials to encapsulate and support guest molecules, palladium nanoparticles were loaded and transported by these hybrid materials and their reactivity toward Heck reactions was also investigated.

Grafting modification and structural degradation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under the effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by the degradation effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry. PVP macroradicals formed by sonochemical degradation of a PVP solution were trapped by MWCNTs and grafted onto the surface of MWCNTs. It was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis that the PVP was covalently bonded on the MWCNTs. Transmission electron microscopy showed nanotubes in the grafted samples were shorter than the original MWCNTs due to the crushing effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry. Both the decrease in length of the MWCNTs and the PVP grafted onto them are beneficial for their dispersion in solvents.

Covalent layer-by-layer functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by click chemistry

The covalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by layer-by-layer (LbL) click chemistry is reported. The clickable polymers of poly(2-azidoethyl methacrylate) and poly(propargyl methacrylate) were synthesized at first by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-azidoethyl methacrylate and reverse addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of propargyl methacrylate, respectively. The two polymers were then alternately coated on alkyne-modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes using Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction of Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azides and alkynes. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements confirm that the quantity and thickness of the clicked polymer shell on MWNTs can be well controlled by adjusting the cycles or numbers of click reaction and the polymer shell is uniform and even. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier tranform infrared (FTIR) measurements showed that there were still a great amount of residual azido groups on the surfaces of the functionalized MWNTs after clicking three layers of polymers. Furthermore, alkyne-modified rhodamine B and monoalkyne-terminated polystyrene were subsequently used to functionalize the clickable polymer grafted MWNTs, giving rise to fluorescent carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and CNT-based polystyrene brushes, respectively. It demonstrates that the residual azido groups on the surfaces of MWNTs are available for further click reaction with various functional molecules.

Enhanced dispersion of carbon nanotubes in hyperbranched polyurethane and properties of nanocomposites

Hyperbranched polyurethane (HBPU) nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by in situ polymerization on the basis of poly(ε-caprolactone)diol as the soft segment, 4,4'-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) as the hard segment, and castor oil as the multifunctional group for the hyperbranched structure. A dominant improvement in the dispersion of MWNTs in the HBPU matrix was found, and good solubility of HBPU-MWNT nanocomposites in organic solvents was shown. Due to the well-dispersed MWNTs, the nanocomposites resulted in achieving excellent shape memory properties as well as enhanced mechanical properties compared to pure HBPU.

Preparation of poly(methyl methacrylate) grafted titanate nanotubes by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization

This paper reports the successful preparation of core-shell hybrid nanocomposites by a 'grafting from' approach based on in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) from titanate nanotubes (TNTs). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of the products provide direct evidence for the formation of a core-shell structure, possessing a hard core of TNTs and a soft shell of poly-MMA (PMMA). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to determine the chemical structure, morphology, and the grafted PMMA quantities of the resulting products. The grafted PMMA content was well controlled and increased with increasing monomer/initiator ratio. Further copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with PMMA-coated TNTs as initiators was realized, illustrating the 'living' characteristics of the ATRP method used in this paper.

Grafting acrylic polymers from flat nickel and copper surfaces by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Acrylic polymers, including poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate), poly( N,N'-dimethyaminoethyl methacrylate), and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) were grafted from flat nickel and copper surfaces through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). For the nickel system, there was a linear relationship between polymer layer thickness and monomer conversion or molecular weight of "free" polymers. The thickness of the polymer brush films was greater than 80 nm after 6 h of reaction time. The grafting density was estimated to be 0.40 chains/nm2. The "living" chain ends of grafted polymers were still active and initiated the growth of a second block of polymer. Block copolymer brushes with different block sequences were successfully prepared. The experimental surface chemical compositions as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy agreed very well with their theoretical values. Water contact angle measurements further confirmed the successful grafting of polymers from nickel and copper surfaces. The surface morphologies of all samples were studied by atomic force microscopy. This study provided a novel approach to prepare stable functional polymer coatings on reactive metal surfaces.