Functionalization of multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Poly(ε-caprolactone) Using Click Chemistry

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were covalently functionalized with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) using click chemistry. First, chlorine moiety-containing PCL was synthesized by the copolymerization of alpha-chloro-epsilon-caprolactone with epsilon-caprolactone monomer using ring opening polymerization, and further converted to azide moiety-containing PCL. The alkyne-functionalized MWNTs were prepared with the treatment of p-amino propargyl ether using a solvent free diazotization procedure. The covalent functionalization of alkyne-derived MWNTs with azide moiety-containing PCL was accomplished using Cu(I)-catalyzed [3+2] Huisgen dipolar cycloaddition click chemistry. The PCL-functionalization of MWNTs was confirmed by the measurements of Fourier transform infra-red, NMR, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 31-37, 2011