Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have received extensive research attention owing to their extraordinary optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, which make them particularly attractive for application in optoelectronic devices. However, SWCNTs are insoluble in almost all solvents. The...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/1/52 |
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| author | Jyorthana Rajappa Muralidhar Koichi Kodama Takuji Hirose Yoshihiro Ito Masuki Kawamoto |
| author_facet | Jyorthana Rajappa Muralidhar Koichi Kodama Takuji Hirose Yoshihiro Ito Masuki Kawamoto |
| author_sort | Jyorthana Rajappa Muralidhar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have received extensive research attention owing to their extraordinary optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, which make them particularly attractive for application in optoelectronic devices. However, SWCNTs are insoluble in almost all solvents. Therefore, developing methods to solubilize SWCNTs is crucial for their use in solution-based processes. In this study, we developed a photocleavable polythiophene-derivative polymer dispersant for SWCNTs. The noncovalent surface functionalization of SWCNTs with a polymer allows their dispersal in tetrahydrofuran. The resultant solution-processed polymer/SWCNT composite film undergoes a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic change in surface properties upon light irradiation (313 nm) because hydrophilic carboxyl groups are formed upon photocleavage of the hydrophobic solubilizing units in the polymer. Furthermore, the photocleaved composite film displays a 38-fold increase in electrical conductivity. This is due to the removal of the solubilizing unit, which is electrically insulating. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:28:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-647a237cd1e54cd390fbc9fb42d8905c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:28:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-647a237cd1e54cd390fbc9fb42d8905c2023-11-23T12:00:48ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-12-011215210.3390/nano12010052Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene DerivativeJyorthana Rajappa Muralidhar0Koichi Kodama1Takuji Hirose2Yoshihiro Ito3Masuki Kawamoto4Emergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanGraduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, JapanEmergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, JapanEmergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, JapanSingle-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have received extensive research attention owing to their extraordinary optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, which make them particularly attractive for application in optoelectronic devices. However, SWCNTs are insoluble in almost all solvents. Therefore, developing methods to solubilize SWCNTs is crucial for their use in solution-based processes. In this study, we developed a photocleavable polythiophene-derivative polymer dispersant for SWCNTs. The noncovalent surface functionalization of SWCNTs with a polymer allows their dispersal in tetrahydrofuran. The resultant solution-processed polymer/SWCNT composite film undergoes a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic change in surface properties upon light irradiation (313 nm) because hydrophilic carboxyl groups are formed upon photocleavage of the hydrophobic solubilizing units in the polymer. Furthermore, the photocleaved composite film displays a 38-fold increase in electrical conductivity. This is due to the removal of the solubilizing unit, which is electrically insulating.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/1/52carbon nanotubepolythiophenenoncovalent functionalizationphotocleavagesurface hydrophilicity |
| spellingShingle | Jyorthana Rajappa Muralidhar Koichi Kodama Takuji Hirose Yoshihiro Ito Masuki Kawamoto Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative Nanomaterials carbon nanotube polythiophene noncovalent functionalization photocleavage surface hydrophilicity |
| title | Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative |
| title_full | Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative |
| title_fullStr | Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative |
| title_full_unstemmed | Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative |
| title_short | Noncovalent Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with a Photocleavable Polythiophene Derivative |
| title_sort | noncovalent functionalization of single walled carbon nanotubes with a photocleavable polythiophene derivative |
| topic | carbon nanotube polythiophene noncovalent functionalization photocleavage surface hydrophilicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/1/52 |
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