Single-Chain Folding Nanoparticles as Carbon Nanotube Catchers

Abstract

This contribution describes a simple method for preparing polymeric nanoparticles using photodimerization of anthracene moieties on the side chain of terpolymers in dilute regime and transformation of obtained polymeric nanoparticles into pyrene functional nanoparticles via Menschutkin quaternization procedure. Subsequently, pyrene possessing polymeric nanoparticles are attached onto multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) surfaces by pi-pi stacking strategy. Gel permeation chromatography, thermal gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopies are used to analyze modified nanoparticles and their precursors. Electron microscopy and dispersion studies show that pyrene-modified polymeric nanoparticles are able to interconnect various CNTs. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 2709-2714