TY - JOUR
T1 - Dispersions of polymer-modified carbon nanotubes
T2 - A small-angle scattering investigation
AU - Golosova, Anastasia A.
AU - Adelsberger, Joseph
AU - Sepe, Alessandro
AU - Niedermeier, Martin A.
AU - Lindner, Peter
AU - Funari, Sergio S.
AU - Jordan, Rainer
AU - Papadakis, Christine M.
PY - 2012/7/26
Y1 - 2012/7/26
N2 - Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were modified with polystyrene (PS) using self-initiated photografting photopolymerization. In order to optimize their utilization in CNT/polymer nanocomposites, a thorough characterization of their dispersions in solvents is of key importance. Using small-angle scattering, we have studied the effect of the modification on the agglomeration behavior in dilute toluene dispersions. Whereas small-angle X-ray scattering gives overall information, small-angle neutron scattering together with the use of deuterated solvents highlights the polymer shells or the CNTs. The structure of the CNTs and their agglomerates were modeled as fractal aggregates of homogeneous or core-shell cylinders for single- and multiwalled CNTs, respectively. In this way, we have characterized the dispersibility of the CNTs as well as the thickness of the shell formed by the grafted polymers in dependence on the time of polymerization.
AB - Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were modified with polystyrene (PS) using self-initiated photografting photopolymerization. In order to optimize their utilization in CNT/polymer nanocomposites, a thorough characterization of their dispersions in solvents is of key importance. Using small-angle scattering, we have studied the effect of the modification on the agglomeration behavior in dilute toluene dispersions. Whereas small-angle X-ray scattering gives overall information, small-angle neutron scattering together with the use of deuterated solvents highlights the polymer shells or the CNTs. The structure of the CNTs and their agglomerates were modeled as fractal aggregates of homogeneous or core-shell cylinders for single- and multiwalled CNTs, respectively. In this way, we have characterized the dispersibility of the CNTs as well as the thickness of the shell formed by the grafted polymers in dependence on the time of polymerization.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864224062&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/jp303582t
DO - 10.1021/jp303582t
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84864224062
SN - 1932-7447
VL - 116
SP - 15765
EP - 15774
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
IS - 29
ER -