Improving dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in a polymer matrix using specific interactions

A novel approach is presented to improve the dispersion of oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in a copolymer matrix by tuning hydrogen-bonding interactions to enhance dispersion. Nanocomposites of single-walled carbon nanotubes and copolymers of styrene and vinyl phenol (PSVPh) with varying vinyl phenol content were produced and examined. The dispersion of the SWNT in the polymer matrix is quantified by optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy is also used to investigate preferred interactions between the SWNTs and the copolymers via the shift in the D* Raman band of the SWNTs in the composites. All composites show regions of SWNT aggregates; however, the aggregate size varies with composition of the PSVPh copolymer and the amount of SWNT oxidation. Optimal dispersion of the SWNT is observed in PSVPh with 20% vinyl phenol and oxidized nanotubes, which correlates with spectroscopic evidence that indicates that this system also incorporates the most interactions between SWNT and polymer matrix. These results are in agreement with previous studies that indicate that optimizing the extent of specific interactions between a polymer matrix and nanoscale filler enables the efficient dispersion of the nanofillers.