Novel Diblock Copolymer-Grafted Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes via a combination of Living and Controlled/Living Surface Polymerizations

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.23865· OSTI ID:1009940

Priftis, Dimitrios ^[1]; Sakellariou, Georgios ^[1]; Mays, Jimmy ^[2]; Hadjichristidis, Nikos ^[3]

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1. ORNL
2. University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
3. University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Diels Alder cycloaddition reactions were used to functionalize multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with 1-benzocylcobutene-10-phenylethylene (BCB-PE) or 4-hydroxyethylbenzocyclobutene (BCB-EO). The covalent functionalization of the nanotubes with these initiator precursors was verified by FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After appropriate transformations/additions, the functionalized MWNTs were used for surface initiated anionic and ring opening polymerizations of ethylene oxide and e-caprolactone (e-CL), respectively. The OH-end groups were transformed to isopropylbromide groups by reaction with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, for subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene or 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate to afford the final diblock copolymers. 1H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), TGA, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for the characterization of the nanocomposite materials. TEM images showed the presence of a polymer layer around the MWNTs as well as the dissociation of MWNT bundles. Consequently, this general methodology, employing combinations of different polymerization techniques, increases the diversity of diblocks that can be grafted from MWNTs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1009940
• Journal Information: Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Polymer Science, Part A: Polymer Chemistry Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 48; ISSN 0887-624X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ATOMS
CALORIMETRY
CARBON
COPOLYMERS
DISSOCIATION
ETHYLENE
METHACRYLATES
NANOTUBES
OPENINGS
OXIDES
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RADICALS
STYRENE
THERMAL GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
anionic polymerization
atom transfer radical polymerization
diblock copolymers
thermogravimetric analysis