Polymer and method for using the polymer for solubilizing nanotubes

• US 7,544,415 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evermore Applied Materials Corp., 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, Inc. (Zyvex Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Haiying, Chen, Jian
• Primary Examiner(s): Lipman; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US11/775,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20080194737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 428/367, 428/398, 428/408, 423/445.B, 423/445.R, 423/460, 524/495, 524/496, 525/416
• 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 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: 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 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.

Claims

1. A composite comprising:

a fibrous material; and

functionalized, solubilized nanotubes mixed within the fibrous material,

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;

2. The composite of claim 1 wherein the fibrous material comprises bucky paper.

3. The composite of claim 1 wherein the backbone comprises a poly(aryleneethynylene).

4. The composite of claim 3 wherein the poly(aryleneethynylene) comprises at least 4 of said 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 composite of claim 1 wherein the backbone comprises a poly(phenyleneethynylene).

6. The composite of claim 1 wherein the backbone comprises a poly(3-decylthiophene).

7. The composite of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is a carbon nanotube.

8. The composite of claim 1 wherein the nanotube comprises a single-walled carbon nanotube, a multi-walled carbon nanotube, or a combination thereof.

9. The composite of claim 1 further comprising polycarbonate.

10. The composite of claim 1 further comprising polystyrene.

11. The composite of claim 1 wherein the at least one functional portion comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

H, OC₁₀H₂₁, F,

12. An article of manufacture comprising the composite of claim 1.