A facile approach to the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotube-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanohybrids

A simple and effective technique is reported to prepare multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (PUSS) nanohybrids. The approach is based on covalent bonding between nanotubes and PUSS molecules. Electron microscopy studies reveal the attachment of a large amount of PUSS to the functionalized MWCNT5. Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses further verify the existence of covalent grafting of PUSS onto nanotube walls through the formation of amide bonds. The improvement of functionality and thermal stability (up to 200 degrees C) of MWCNT5 due to the proposed technique can make these MWCNT-PUSS nanohybrids effective reinforcing materials for polymer matrices. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.