Grafting modification and structural degradation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under the effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared by the degradation effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry. PVP macroradicals formed by sonochemical degradation of a PVP solution were trapped by MWCNTs and grafted onto the surface of MWCNTs. It was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis that the PVP was covalently bonded on the MWCNTs. Transmission electron microscopy showed nanotubes in the grafted samples were shorter than the original MWCNTs due to the crushing effect of ultrasonics sonochemistry. Both the decrease in length of the MWCNTs and the PVP grafted onto them are beneficial for their dispersion in solvents.