Wrapping of SWCNTs in Polyethylenoxide-Based Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers: An Approach to Purification, Debundling, and Integration into the Epoxy Matrix

An approach based on noncovalent interactions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with amphiphilic block copolymers (BCs) containing polyethylenoxide has been undertaken for developing efficiently reinforced nanocomposite materials. The SWCNT dispersion in BC aqueous solutions provides highly purified and unbundled SWCNTs, a material particularly suitable for the reinforcement of epoxy matrices. The effect of SWCNT oxidation prior to wrapping was also explored, and it was determined that oxidized SWCNTs wrapped in BC present higher purity and debundling than their as-grown counterpart. Epoxy nanocomposites containing BC-wrapped SWCNTs exhibit improved mechanical and electrical properties, which depend on the choice of the wrapping BC and SWCNT surface chemistry.