Synthesis of modified carbon nanotube-reinforced thiazole dyes/silica hybrid materials

Abstract

A series of novel hybrid materials prepared via the sol–gel process is synthesized from carbon nanotubes, tetraethoxysilane, and heteroaryl 2-aminothiazole azo dyes. The starting material thiazole is synthesized from thiourea, acetophenone, and iodide to obtain 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole. 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole, which is a coupling component, is coupled with p-methoxyaniline, which is a diazo component, in an ice bath to produce heterocyclic 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole azo dyes. Hybrid materials composed of carbon nanotube/SiO2/thiazole azo dyes are synthesized via the sol–gel process using a precursor system. Heterocyclic 4-phenyl-2-aminothiazole azo dyes undergo a hydrolysis-condensation reaction with an appropriate proportion of surface-modified carbon nanotubes under a catalyst, at a constant ratio of vinyltriethoxysilane to tetraethoxysilane. The structures of these hybrid materials composed of carbon nanotube/SiO2/thiazole azo dyes are characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, 29Si-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.