Double walled carbon nanotube/polymer composites via in-situ nitroxide mediated polymerisation of amphiphilic block copolymers

Abstract

Because of their unique physical, chemical, and structural properties, carbon nanotubes (CNT) are playing an increasingly important role in the development of new engineering materials [1]. Across many different applications, CNT/polymer composites have been extensively studied [2] S.B. Sinnot and R. Andrews, Carbon nanotubes: synthesis, properties, and applications, Crit Rev Solid State Mater Sci 26 (2001), pp. 145–249.[2]. The key problem for CNT/polymer composite elaboration is the dispersion, compatibilization, and stabilization of the CNT in the polymer matrix. To solve this problem, a structure with di-block copolymers, one with a good affinity to CNT (monomer M1), the other being the matrix (monomer M2), is proposed in this study, as shown on the two steps mechanism of Fig. 1.