Directly growing ionic polymers on multi-walled carbon nanotubes via surface RAFT polymerization

RAFT agents were attached to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs); subsequently, different kinds of aqueous soluble ionic polymer chains, such as cationic polymer ( poly( 2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate)), anionic polymer ( poly( acrylic acid)) and zwitterionic polymer ( poly{3-[N-(3-methacrylamidopropyl)-N,N-dimethyl] ammoniopropane sulfonate}) were easily to grafted onto the surface of MWNTs directly by surface reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer ( RAFT) polymerization. The produced poly{3-[ N-( 3- methacrylamidopropyl)N, N- dimethyl] ammoniopropane sulfonate} functionalized MWNTs, poly( acrylic acid) functionalized MWNTs and poly( 2-( dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) functionalized MWNTs have good solubility in aqueous solution.