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Supramolecular Self‐Assembly of Polymer‐Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes on Surfaces
Author(s) -
Gao Chao
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200600075
Subject(s) - materials science , methyl methacrylate , tetrahydrofuran , carbon nanotube , polymer , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , poly(methyl methacrylate) , scanning electron microscope , supramolecular chemistry , copolymer , solvent , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , crystal structure , engineering
Summary: Supramolecular self‐assembly of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT‐ g ‐PMMA) was reported herein. The MWNT‐ g ‐PMMA (85 wt.‐% PMMA) dispersed in tetrahydrofuran could self‐assemble into suprastructures on surfaces such as gold, mica, silicon, quartz, or carbon films. With decreasing concentration of the MWNT‐ g ‐PMMA from 3 to 0.1 mg · mL −1 , the assembled structures changed from cellular and basketwork‐like forms to multilayer cellular networks and individual needles. SEM, AFM, and TEM measurements confirmed the morphology of the assembled suprastructures, and revealed the assembly mechanism. Phase separation during evaporation of the solvent drives the MWNT‐ g ‐PMMA nanohybrids to assemble and form the suprastructures, and the rigid MWNTs stabilize the structures.SEM images of self‐assembled suprastructures of basketwork (a), cellular network (b), and needles (c) from the THF solution of the PMMA‐grafted MWNTs on gold surface.