Micelle-Encapsulated Carbon Nanotubes:  A Route to Nanotube Composites

Youngjong Kang and T. Andrew Taton*
Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, 207 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125 (19), pp 5650–5651
DOI: 10.1021/ja034082d
Publication Date (Web): April 19, 2003
Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society
*

In papers with more than one author, the asterisk indicates the name of the author to whom inquiries about the paper should be addressed.

, taton@chem.umn.edu

Abstract

Abstract Image

We report a general approach toward dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in solvents and polymer materials, by encapsulating SWNTs within cross-linked micelles. Micelles made from polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA), an amphiphilic block copolymer, are first assembled around SWNTs by gradually adding H2O to a suspension of nanotubes in dimethylformamide. The hydrophilic, outer shells of these micelles are then chemically cross-linked with a difunctional linker molecule. Pure encapsulated SWNTs (e-SWNTs) can then be separated from empty cross-linked micelles by consecutive cycles of centrifugation and redispersion. Atomic force and transmission electron microscopies of the resulting nanostructures demonstrate that individual nanotubes (rather than bundles) have been completely encased in polymer shells whose thickness is slightly larger than that of empty micelles. e-SWNTs encapsulated in PS-b-PAA can be permanently redispersed in H2O, in organic solvents, and in both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer matrices with minimal sonication. Micelle encapsulation could improve the compositing of SWNTs in a wide variety of polymer materials for structural, electronic, and thermal applications.

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History

  • Published In Issue May 14, 2003
  • Received January 8, 2003

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