Surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes through surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate

Herein, we report the fabrication of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) polymeric conjugates of shortened multi-walled carbon nanotubes (sMWCNT). The synthesis method involves the attachment of initiator on the surface of nanotubes followed by surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of GMA from the initiator-bound sMWCNT surface. This is achieved by the procedure consisting of three important steps: introduction of amino groups onto the sMWCNT and attachment of polymerization initiator, 2-bromo-2-methylpropinonyl bromide, and polymerization of GMA. The structure and properties of the resultant polymeric conjugates were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and SEM. The FT-IR analysis of polymeric conjugates shows infrared (IR) peaks characteristic of GMA. AFM, TEM and SEM images clearly show the formation of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)(PGMA) polymer on sMWCNT surface. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.