Dispersion Behavior of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Pyrene-Containing Linear and Graft Polymers as Non-covalent Surface Modifiers

Various effects on dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in organic solvent and in polymer film by means of pyrene-containing polymeric surface modifiers were investigated. Graft surface modifiers of poly(ethylene oxide) and of polystyrene with pyrene groups were synthesized by radical co-polymerization of corresponding macromonomers and a pyrene-containing methacrylate monomer. The effect of pyrene content on MWCNT dispersion was examined in THF with polymers of different unit ratio of macromonomer to pyrene monomer. The effect of the polymer architecture was explored with a linear polymer having a pyrene end-group and graft polymers having pyrene units. As a result, the dispersibility of MWCNT in THF was improved with increasing pyrene content in the graft polymer and was also improved by a branched architecture of the polymeric non-covalent surface modifier. Preparation of a homogeneously MWCNT dispersed polystyrene film was investigated with a pyrene-containing graft polystyrene as a compatibilizer between the polystyrene matrix and MWCNT as well. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010