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Fabrication of ceramic oxide-coated SWNT composites by sol–gel process with a polymer glue

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Abstract

The functional copolymer bearing alkoxysilyl and pyrene groups, poly[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate]-co-[(1-pyrene-methyl) methacrylate] (TEPM13-co-PyMMA3), was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization. Attributing the π–π interaction of pyrene units with the walls of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), this polymer could disperse and exfoliate SWNTs in different solvents through physical interaction as demonstrated by TEM, UV/Vis absorption, and FT-IR analysis. The alkoxysilyl groups functionalized SWNTs were reacted with different inorganic precursors via sol–gel reaction, and, as a results, silica, titania, and alumina were coated onto the surface of SWNTs, respectively via copolymers as a molecular glue. The nanocomposites of ceramic oxides/SWNTs were characterized by SEM analysis. Dependent upon the feed, the thickness of inorganic coating can be tuned easily. This study supplies a facile and general way to coat SWNTs with ceramic oxides without deteriorating the properties of pristine SWNTs.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from NSF China (20534010 and 20625412) and the 973 program of MOST (G2003CB615605) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Cheng Zhang, Lei Gao & Yongming Chen

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  1. Cheng Zhang
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  2. Lei Gao
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  3. Yongming Chen
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Correspondence to Yongming Chen.

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Zhang, C., Gao, L. & Chen, Y. Fabrication of ceramic oxide-coated SWNT composites by sol–gel process with a polymer glue. J Nanopart Res 13, 3731–3740 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0295-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0295-1

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