Nano Express
Pyrene-POSS nanohybrid as a dispersant for carbon nanotubes in solvents of various polarities: its synthesis and application in the preparation of a composite membrane
Institute of Polymer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Max-Planck- Str.1, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
Nanoscale Research Letters 2012, 7:296 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-296
Published: 7 June 2012Abstract
In this study we report the preparation of nanohybrid dispersant molecules based on pyrene and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes for non-covalent functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The prepared dispersant improves the dispersion of MWCNTs in organic solvents with very different polarities such as tetrahydrofuran, toluene, and n-hexane. The functionalized MWCNTs were used to introduce conductivity into polydimethylsiloxane membranes which can be used for electrostatic discharge applications.
