Effective approaches for the preparation of organo-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes and the corresponding MWCNT/polymer nanocomposites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising nanomaterials for the preparation of nanohybrids and nanocomposites with polymers. In the preparation processes, surface modification and functionalization of CNTs have key roles to enhance the compatibility in organic solvents or water for solution processing r...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer journal 2016-04, Vol.48 (4), p.351-358
Main Author: Liu, Ying-Ling
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/301/357
639/638/455/957
Addition polymerization
Biomaterials
Bioorganic Chemistry
Chains (polymeric)
Chemical bonds
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Chemistry/Food Science
Compatibility
focus-review
Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Nanostructure
Polymer Sciences
Radicals
Surfaces and Interfaces
Thin Films
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising nanomaterials for the preparation of nanohybrids and nanocomposites with polymers. In the preparation processes, surface modification and functionalization of CNTs have key roles to enhance the compatibility in organic solvents or water for solution processing routes; furthermore, they improve the interfacial compatibility between CNTs and the polymer matrix to avoid CNT aggregation in CNT/polymer nanocomposites. Hence, we have developed three approaches for directly reacting chemical agents and polymer chains with multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs). The methods are: (i) sequential atom transfer radical addition to MWCNTs, which conveniently builds up polymer architectures on MWCNT surfaces; (ii) ozone-mediated addition reaction, which effectively chemically bonds non-reactive polymer chains to MWCNTs; and (iii) Diels–Alder reaction-mediated MWCNT functionalization, which achieves thermally reversible functionalization/de-functionalization of MWCNTs. On the basis of the new reaction routes, the scopes of nanohybrids and nanocomposites of MWCNT/polymers and their properties and functions have been significantly enhanced and extended. Some examples are discussed in this review. Three approaches for directly reacting chemical agents and polymer chains with multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) are presented, including (i) sequential atom transfer radical addition/polymerization to MWCNTs; (ii) ozone-mediated addition reaction to MWCNTs; and (iii) Diels–Alder reaction-mediated MWCNT functionalization. On the basis of the reaction routes, the scopes and functions of MWCNT-based nanohybrids and nanocomposites have been extended.
ISSN:0032-3896
1349-0540
DOI:10.1038/pj.2015.132