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Novel multiwalled carbon nanotube grafted with polyethylene glycol-block-polystyrene nanohybrids: ATRP synthesis and detection of benzene vapor

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Abstract

Novel multiwalled carbon nanotube graft polyethylene glycol-block-polystyrene copolymer nanohybrids (MWCNTs-g-PEG-b-PS) were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization using carboxylated MWCNTs (MWCNTs–COOH) as a conductive carrier. The chemical structure and the compositions of graft copolymer nanohybrids were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and gas chromatography, and the morphologies and dispersion behavior were observed by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope etc. The MWCNTs-g-PEG-b-PS-grafted copolymer nanohybrids were fabricated into conductive composite thin film sensors to investigate their responsiveness to benzene vapor. The influence of the molecular weights or compositional ratios of PEG and PS blocks on the conductivity of the conducting polymer nanohybrids and responsibility towards benzene vapor was investigated. The conducting polymer nanohybrid film sensors were demonstrated to possess the characteristics of quick response and good restorability, repeatability, and stability.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant NSFC 21273142 and 21172138).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, People’s Republic of China

    Yan-Ling Luo, Rui-Xue Bai, Feng Xu, Ya-Shao Chen, Hua Li, Si-Si Dai & Wen-Bo Ma

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  1. Yan-Ling Luo
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  2. Rui-Xue Bai
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  3. Feng Xu
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  4. Ya-Shao Chen
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  5. Hua Li
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Correspondence to Yan-Ling Luo or Feng Xu.

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Luo, YL., Bai, RX., Xu, F. et al. Novel multiwalled carbon nanotube grafted with polyethylene glycol-block-polystyrene nanohybrids: ATRP synthesis and detection of benzene vapor. J Mater Sci 51, 1363–1375 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9455-5

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