Ionomer covalent functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes by radical polymerization of zirconium acrylate |
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| Authors: | Sellamuthu N. Jaisankar Donna J. Nelson Ravi Kumar Asit Baran Mandal |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK;2. Polymer Division, Central Leather Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India;3. Chemical Laboratory, Central Leather Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India |
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| Abstract: | A facile and efficient covalent functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via peroxide‐mediated free radical covalent attachment and polymerization of zirconium acrylate is reported. The resulting covalently functionalized SWCNTs exhibit improved solubility in organic solvents. The covalently functionalized SWCNTs are characterized by cross polarization magic angle spinning 13C NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, x‐ray diffraction, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectroscopy reveals that carboxylate groups of covalently attached ionomers chelate with zirconium ions and the participating carboxylate groups may be from different ionomer chains leading to cross‐linking the chains. The SWCNT topology, ionic clustering, and π‐electron clouds were explored by transmission electron microscopy. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 820–828, 2014 |
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| Keywords: | single‐walled carbon nanotubes free radical addition polymerization covalent functionalization ionomer graft copolymer |
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