Polymer and method for using the polymer for noncovalently functionalizing nanotubes

• US 7,241,496 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evermore Applied Materials Corp., University Of Pittsburgh (University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education)
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Zyvex Performance Materials, LLC
• Inventors: Chen, Jian, Liu, Haiying
• Primary Examiner(s): Lipman; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/894,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20060002841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 428/367, 428/398, 428/408, 524/495, 524/496, 525/416, 423/445.B, 423/445.R, 423/460
• US Class Current: 428/367
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/02 Single-walled nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2202/28 Solid content in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/174 Derivatisation; Solubilisation; Dispersion in solvents
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/02 Macromolecular compounds containing only carbon atoms in the main chain of the macromolecule, e.g. polyxylylenes
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/122 derived from five- or six-membered heterocyclic compounds, other than imides
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/124 with a five-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom in the ring
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/126 with a five-membered ring containing one sulfur atom in the ring
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 11/14 with organic compounds, e.g. macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/737 having a modified surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/847 Surface modifications, e.g. functionalization, coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2975 Tubular or cellular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer

Abstract

A new, non-wrapping approach to functionalizing nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes, in organic and inorganic solvents is provided. In accordance with certain embodiments, carbon nanotube surfaces are functionalized in a non-wrapping fashion by functional conjugated polymers that include functional groups. Various embodiments provide polymers that noncovalently bond with carbon nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion. For example, various embodiments of polymers are provided that comprise a relatively rigid backbone that is suitable for noncovalently bonding with a carbon nanotube substantially along the nanotube'"'"'s length, as opposed to about its diameter. In preferred polymers, the major interaction between the polymer backbone and the nanotube surface is parallel π-stacking. In certain implementations, the polymers further comprise at least one functional extension from the backbone that are any of various desired functional groups for functionalizing a carbon nanotube.

Claims

1. A polymer comprising:

a backbone portion for noncovalently bonding with a nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion.

2. The polymer of claim 1 wherein said backbone portion comprises a portion selected from the group consisting of:

3. The polymer of claim 1 comprising poly(aryleneethynylene).

4. The polymer of claim 3 further comprising at least 4 functional portions (R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄), wherein said functional portions comprise functional portions selected from the group consisting of:

a) R₁═

R₄═

H and R₂═

R₃═

OC₁₀H₂₁,

b) R₁═

R₂═

R₃═

R₄═

F,

c) R₁═

R₄═

H and R₂═

R₃═

5. The polymer of claim 1 comprising poly(phenyleneethynylene).

6. The polymer of claim 1 comprising poly(3-decylthiophene).

7. The polymer of claim 1 wherein said nanotube is a carbon nanotube.

8. The polymer of claim 1 wherein said backbone portion is capable of interacting with said nanotube'"'"'s surface via π

-stacking.

9. The polymer of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one functional portion for functionalizing said nanotube.

10. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said at least one functional portion comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

H, OC₁₀H₂₁, F,

11. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said at least one functional portion comprises a chemical handle.

12. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said at least one functional portion comprises a sensor.

13. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said at least one functional portion comprises an ionic functional group.

14. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said at least one functional portion comprises a neutral functional group.

15. The polymer of claim 9 wherein said at least one functional portion comprises an organic functional group.

16. A method of flinctionalizing a carbon nanotube, comprising:

noncovalently bonding a polymer comprising a backbone portion and at least one functional group, with a carbon nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion, wherein the backbone portion comprises a portion selected from the group consisting of;

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube.

18. A method of functionalizing a carbon nanotube, said method comprising noncovalently bonding a polymer comprising a backbone portion selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryleneethynylene), a poly(phenyleneethynylene), a poly(3-decylthiophene) and a polypyrrole, and wherein the backbone portion comprises at least one functional group.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one functional group comprises OC₁₀H₂₁, F,

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said polymer noncovalently bonds with said nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion via π

-stacking.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube.

22. A composition comprising:

a polymer associated with a carbon nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion, wherein the polymer comprises a backbone portion and at least one functional group, wherein the backbone portion comprises a portion selected from the group consisting of;

23. The composition of claim 22 wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube.

24. A composition comprising a polymer associated with a carbon nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion, wherein the polymer comprises a backbone portion selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryleneethynylene), a poly(phenyleneethynylene), a poly(3-decyithiophene) and a polypyrrole, and wherein the backbone portion comprises at least one functional group.

25. The composition of claim 24, wherein the at least one functional group

comprises OC₁₀H₂₁, F,

26. The composition of claim 24 wherein said backbone portion associates with said nanotube'"'"'s surface via π

-stacking interaction therewith.

27. The composition of claim 26 wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube.