Radical Polymer-Wrapped SWNTs at a Molecular Level: High-Rate Redox Mediation Through a Percolation Network for a Transparent Charge-Storage Material

A transparent nanocomposite of a radical polymer, the poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy-4-yl methacrylate) (PTMA), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) display a reversible charging and discharging, allowing full discharge in seconds. This is ascribed to the reversible electrochemical reaction of the pendant radical group in PTMA aided by both PTMA wrapping at a molecular level and the SWNT network for electrical conduction.