Synthesis of polymer grafted carbon nanotubes by nitroxide mediated radical polymerization in the presence of spin-labeled carbon nanotubes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were grafted with polystyrene by in situ nitroxide mediated radical polymerization in the presence of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl) functionalized MWCNT, which was synthesized by the reaction between 4-hydroxyl-TEMPO (HO–TEMPO) and carbonyl chloride groups on the MWCNT. Although the controllability of the polymerization was not high, highly soluble grafted MWCNTs were indeed obtained, indicating that the graft polymerization was efficient. The resulting polystyrene grafted MWCNTs were easily defunctionalized at room temperature using 3-chloroperoxybenzioc acid. TEM, SEM, and TGA were employed to determine the structure, morphology, and the grafting quantities of the resulting products.