Preparation of mechanically enhanced supramolecular carbon nanotube (CNT) film using a water-soluble π–π bonding linker

• Published in: Carbon Letters Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 461 - 469
• Main Authors: Lee, Jun-Woo, Yoo, Moonseong, Kim, Kun Won, Jeong, Hyein, Chung, Jae Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.10.2019; Springer Nature B.V; 한국탄소학회
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon nanotubes; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Dispersants; Electromagnetic shielding; Electrons; Hybridization; Hydrocarbons; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Molecular weight; Nanotechnology; Nanowires; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Original Article; Pi-electrons; Polyethylene; Polyethylene oxide; Silver; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Surfactants; Toxicity; Vacuum filtration; 자연과학일반; Mechanical properties; Carbon composites; Carbon nanotubes (CNT); Bonding; Aromatic
• ISSN: 1976-4251; 2233-4998
• DOI: 10.1007/s42823-019-00048-6

Mechanically enhanced supramolecular carbon nanotube (CNT) films were prepared in water by employing the π -electron-rich phenyl, naphthalenyl, and pyrenyl end-functionalized polyethylene oxides (PEOs) as supramolecular linkers, followed by vacuum filtration. Among them, the supramolecular CNT film produced by the pyrenyl end-functionalized PEO (PEO-Py) exhibited the highest mechanical strength, which was ~ 1.5–2 times higher than that of the CNT films produced using the typical dispersant, Triton X-100, although the functionality of PEO-Py was lower than that prepared using other linkers, and the content of PEO-Py in the CNT films was lower than that obtained using Triton X-100. Fluorescence and UV–Vis spectroscopy demonstrated that the improved mechanical properties of the supramolecular CNT film result from the formation of π – π interactions between the CNT and the pyrene moieties of the PEO-Py linker. Finally, the supramolecular CNT film exhibited a 40–50 dB electromagnetic shielding efficiency through hybridization with silver nanowires.