Large‐compound vesicle‐encapsulated multiwalled carbon nanotubes: A unique route to nanotube composites

Abstract

AbstractA simple and unique strategy for preparation of large‐compound vesicle (LCV)‐encapsulated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been developed, and this involves dispersion of MWCNTs in H‐shaped copolymers solution in DMF and encapsulation of MWCNTs with LCVs formed from hydrolysis and polycondensation of Si(OCH3)3 groups in the amphiphilic H‐shaped copolymers, (PTMSPMA)2PEG(PTMSPMA)2. This unique noncovalent approach is nondestructive, and the original structure of MWCNTs remains in the resultant MWCNTs/LCVs nanocomposites. The morphologies of nanocomposites LCVs/MWCNTs are controlled by the chain length ratio (NPTMSPMA/NPEG) of PTMSPMA to PEG. For the H‐shaped copolymers with NPMSPMA/NPEG ≤ 1.7, they self‐assembled to form LCVs with dense cavities in the presence of MWCNTs in a mixture of DMF/H2O. When this ratio was more than 2.0, the large‐compound micelle‐wrapped MWCNTs were produced. This approach is potentially useful for preparation of MWCNTs encapsulated with various morphologies of polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3669–3679, 2009