1 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Centre for NanoScience Research, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6, Canada.
2 Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique - Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunications, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada.
3 Centre Québécois sur les Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon-2634, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.

Reduction-Responsive Sheddable Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed in Aqueous Solution.

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2016 Apr;37(8):705-10

Authors: An SY, Sun S, Oh JK

Abstract

A new approach to stabilize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aqueous solution with a reduction-responsive water-soluble polymer is reported. The novel polymer synthesized by a controlled radical polymerization is functionalized with pendant pyrene groups capable of adhering to the surface of CNTs through p-p noncovalent interactions, and labeled with disulfide linkages to exhibit reduction-responsive cleavage. Upon the cleavage of junction disulfide linkages in a reducing environment, water-soluble polymers are shed, retaining clean CNT surfaces for electrochemical catalytic reactions.

PMID: 26890479 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]