Application of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] for splitting of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles in polystyrene/SWCNT composite

摘要

Dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in organic solutions containing poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) were studied by Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. This polymer interacts with the nanotube resulting in the appearance of a new red-shifted absorption band in the electronic spectrum. This indicates the formation of a charge-transfer complex between MEH-PPV and SWCNTs. Additives of MEH-PPV make it possible to achieve stable suspensions of nanotubes in styrene. A polystyrene/SWCNT/MEH-PPV composite with a high degree of bundle splitting was obtained by polymerization. It was shown that the luminescence intensity of the nanotubes in the Raman spectrum can serve as a indicator for the estimation of the degree of splitting of SWCNT bundles in the composite.