Polymer and method for using the polymer for solubilizing nanotubes
First Claim
1. A method of solubilizing a nanotube, said method comprising:
- noncovalently bonding a polymer comprising at least one functional group with a nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion.
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Abstract
A new, non-wrapping approach to solubilize 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 for solubilizing such nanotubes. 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. The polymers further comprise at least one functional extension from the backbone that are any of various desired functional groups that are suitable for solubilizing a carbon nanotube.
749 Citations
78 Claims
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1. A method of solubilizing a nanotube, said method comprising:
noncovalently bonding a polymer comprising at least one functional group with a nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A polymer for solubilizing nanotubes, said polymer comprising:
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a backbone portion for noncovalently bonding with a nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion; and at least one functional portion for solubilizing said nanotube. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A process comprising:
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mixing at least one polymer with at least one nanotube in a solvent; and said mixing results in said at least one polymer forming a noncovalent bond with said at least one nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion and said at least one polymer solubilizing said at least one nanotube. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes, said method comprising:
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interacting at least one polymer comprising at least one functional group with at least one carbon nanotube in a solvent, wherein said polymer interacts with said at least one carbon nanotube'"'"'s surface in a non-wrapping fashion via π
-stacking; andsaid at least one polymer solubilizing said at least one carbon nanotube. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A composite, comprising:
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polycarbonate or polystyrene; and functionalized, solubilized nanotubes mixed within the polycarbonate or polystyrene, wherein the functionalized, solubilized nanotubes comprise a backbone polymer structure bonded to the nanotubes in a nonwrapping fashion, the backbone comprising a portion selected from the group consisting of; - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A process comprising:
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mixing functionalized, solubilized nanotubes and poly(bisphenol A carbonate) in an organic solvent to form a nanocomposite, wherein the functionalized, solubilized nanotubes comprise a backbone bonded to the nanotubes in a nonwrapping fashion, the backbone comprising a portion selected from the group consisting of; - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method of producing a material comprising:
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mixing a polymer with nanotubes in a solvent to produce polymer-solubilized nanotubes, wherein the polymer noncovalently associates with the nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion, and the polymer comprises a backbone portion selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryleneethynylene), a poly(phenyleneethynylene), a poly(3-decylthiophene) and a polypyrrole, and at least one functional group; and drying the polymer-solubilized nanotubes under conditions to produce the material. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A product, comprising:
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polymer-solubilized nanotubes in the form of a dried film, wherein the polymer comprises a backbone portion selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryleneethynylene), a poly(phenyleneethynylene), a poly(3-decylthiophene) and a polypyrrole and at least one functional group, and wherein the polymer is noncovalently bonded with the nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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74. A solution comprising a film of polymer-solubilized nanotubes re-dissolved in a solvent,
wherein the polymer comprises a backbone portion selected from the group consisting of a poly(aryleneethynylene), a poly(phenyleneethynylene), a poly(3-decylthiophene) and a polypyrrole and at least one functional group, and wherein the polymer is noncovalently bonded with the nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion.
Specification