Azobenzene-based supramolecular polymers for processing MWCNTs

L. Maggini, T. Marangoni, B. Georges, J. M. Malicka, K. Yoosaf, A. Minoia, R. Lazzaroni, N. Armaroli, D. Bonifazi,
Nanoscale 2013, 5, 634-645
DOI: 10.1039/C2NR33358A

Abstract

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 transcis 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. cistrans isomerisation) or inducing the CNTs’ precipitation (upon irradiation, transcis 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.

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