Grafting modification and structural degradation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under the effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry

Qiuying Li; Yulu Ma; Chuang Mao; Chifei Wu

doi:10.1016/j.ultsonch.2009.03.006

Grafting modification and structural degradation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under the effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry

Ultrason Sonochem. 2009 Aug;16(6):752-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2009.03.006. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Authors

Qiuying Li¹, Yulu Ma, Chuang Mao, Chifei Wu

Affiliation

¹ Polymer Alloy Lab., School of Material Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.

PMID: 19364675
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2009.03.006

Abstract

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by the degradation effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry. PVP macroradicals formed by sonochemical degradation of a PVP solution were trapped by MWCNTs and grafted onto the surface of MWCNTs. It was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis that the PVP was covalently bonded on the MWCNTs. Transmission electron microscopy showed nanotubes in the grafted samples were shorter than the original MWCNTs due to the crushing effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry. Both the decrease in length of the MWCNTs and the PVP grafted onto them are beneficial for their dispersion in solvents.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't