Azobenzene-based supramolecular polymers for processing MWCNTs

作者:Maggini Laura; Marangoni Tomas; Georges Benoit; Malicka Joanna M; Yoosaf K; Minoia Andrea; Lazzaroni Roberto*; Armaroli Nicola; Bonifazi Davide
来源:Nanoscale, 2013, 5(2): 634-645.
DOI:10.1039/c2nr33358a

摘要

Photothermally responsive supramolecular polymers containing azobenzene units have been synthesised and employed as dispersants for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in organic solvents. Upon triggering the trans-cis isomerisation of the supramolecular polymer intermolecular interactions between MWCNTs and the polymer are established, reversibly affecting the suspensions of the MWCNTs, either favouring it (by heating, i.e. cis -%26gt; trans isomerisation) or inducing the CNTs%26apos; precipitation (upon irradiation, trans -%26gt; cis isomerisation). Taking advantage of the chromophoric properties of the molecular subunits, the solubilisation/precipitation processes have been monitored by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The structural properties of the resulting MWCNT-polymer hybrid materials have been thoroughly investigated via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and modelled with molecular dynamics simulations.

  • 出版日期2013