Covalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with poly(acrylic acid)

Covalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) with poly(acrylic acid) has been successfully achieved via grafting of poly(acryloyl chloride) on nanotube surface by esterification reaction of acyl chloride-bound polymer with hydroxyl functional groups present on acid-oxidized MWNT and hydrolysis of polymer attached to nanotubes. Polymer-functionalized MWNT could possess remarkably high solubility in water, and their aqueous solution was very stable without any observable black deposit for a long time. Characterizations of such functionalized MWNT samples using Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques indicated that poly(acrylic acid) was covalently attached to the surface of MWNT.