Abstract: Formamide group-containing monomers and polymers made by polymerizing the monomers are provided. Also provided are methods of polymerizing the monomers and methods of synthesizing functionalized polymers by pre- and/or post-polymerization functionalization. The monomers are non-toxic and can generate highly reactive isocyanate and isonitrile precursors in a one-pot synthesis that enables the incorporation of complex functionalities into the side-chain of the polymers that are synthesized from the monomers.

Abstract: Methods of forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes on a substrate surface are provided. The films are deposited from carbon nanotubes that have been concentrated and confined at a two-dimensional liquid/liquid interface. The liquid/liquid interface is formed by a dispersion of organic material-coated carbon nanotubes that flows over the surface of an immiscible liquid within a flow channel. Within the interface, the carbon nanotubes self-organize via liquid crystal phenomena and globally align along the liquid flow direction. By translating the interface across the substrate, large-area, wafer-scale films of aligned carbon nanotubes can be deposited on the surface of the substrate in a continuous and scalable process.

Abstract: Formamide group-containing monomers and polymers made by polymerizing the monomers are provided. Also provided are methods of polymerizing the monomers and methods of synthesizing functionalized polymers by pre- and/or post-polymerization functionalization. The monomers are non-toxic and can generate highly reactive isocyanate and isonitrile precursors in a one-pot synthesis that enables the incorporation of complex functionalities into the side-chain of the polymers that are synthesized from the monomers.

Abstract: Methods of forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes on a substrate surface are provided. The films are deposited from carbon nanotubes that have been concentrated and confined at a two-dimensional liquid/liquid interface. The liquid/liquid interface is formed by a dispersion of organic material-coated carbon nanotubes that flows over the surface of an immiscible liquid within a flow channel. Within the interface, the carbon nanotubes self-organize via liquid crystal phenomena and globally align along the liquid flow direction. By translating the interface across the substrate, large-area, wafer-scale films of aligned carbon nanotubes can be deposited on the surface of the substrate in a continuous and scalable process.

Abstract: Methods of transferring nanostructures from a first substrate to another substrate using a copolymer polymerized from one or more non-crosslinking monomers and one or more comonomers bearing crosslinkable groups as a transfer medium are provided. Relative to a poly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymer, the crosslinkable copolymers bond more strongly to the first substrate and, as a result, are able to transfer even very narrow nanostructures between substrates with high transfer yields.

Abstract: Random copolymers, crosslinked thin films of the random copolymers and cell culture substrates comprising the crosslinked thin films are provided. Also provided are methods of making and using the copolymers, thin films and substrates. The copolymers are polymerized from glycidyl methacrylate monomers and vinyl azlactone monomers. The crosslinked thin films are substrate independent, in that they need not be covalently bound to a substrate to form a stable film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: Methods for forming films of aligned carbon nanotubes are provided. Also provided are the films formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the films as active layers. The films are formed by flowing a suspension of carbon nanotubes over a substrate surface that is chemically and topographically patterned. The methods provide a rapid and scalable means of forming films of densely packed and aligned carbon nanotubes over large surface areas.

Abstract: Block copolymers for use in block copolymer lithography, self-assembled films of the block copolymers and methods for polymerizing the block copolymers are provided. The block copolymers are characterized by high Flory-Huggins interaction parameters (?). The block copolymers can be polymerized from protected hydroxystyrene monomers or from tert-butyl styrene and 2-vinylpyridine monomers.

Abstract: Methods for forming carbon nanotube arrays are provided. Also provided are the arrays formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the array as active layers. The arrays are formed by flowing a fluid suspension of carbon nanotubes through a confined channel under conditions that create a velocity gradient across the flowing suspension.

Abstract: Polymers having pendant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone via thioester bonds are provided. The PAH groups are covalently bound to the backbone of the polymer by a molecular linker that includes a thioester bond. Also provided are dispersions of polymer-coated carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube films formed from the dispersions.

Abstract: Formamide group-containing monomers and polymers made by polymerizing the monomers are provided. Also provided are methods of polymerizing the monomers and methods of synthesizing functionalized polymers by pre- and/or post-polymerization functionalization. The monomers are non-toxic and can generate highly reactive isocyanate and isonitrile precursors in a one-pot synthesis that enables the incorporation of complex functionalities into the side-chain of the polymers that are synthesized from the monomers.

Abstract: Random copolymers, crosslinked thin films of the random copolymers and cell culture substrates comprising the crosslinked thin films are provided. Also provided are methods of making and using the copolymers, thin films and substrates. The copolymers are polymerized from glycidyl methacrylate monomers and vinyl azlactone monomers. The crosslinked thin films are substrate independent, in that they need not be covalently bound to a substrate to form a stable film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: Random copolymers, crosslinked thin films of the random copolymers and cell culture substrates comprising the crosslinked thin films are provided. Also provided are methods of making and using the copolymers, thin films and substrates. The copolymers are polymerized from glycidyl methacrylate monomers and vinyl azlactone monomers. The crosslinked thin films are substrate independent, in that they need not be covalently bound to a substrate to form a stable film on the substrate surface.

Abstract: Crosslinkable random copolymers comprising atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators and crosslinked copolymer films formed from the copolymers are provided. The random copolymers, which are polymerized from one or more alkyl halide functional inimers and one or more monomers having a crosslinkable functionality, are characterized by pendant ATRP initiating groups and pendant crosslinkable groups.

Abstract: Polymers having pendant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups covalently bound to the polymer backbone via thioester bonds are provided. The PAH groups are covalently bound to the backbone of the polymer by a molecular linker that includes a thioester bond. Also provided are dispersions of polymer-coated carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube films formed from the dispersions.

Abstract: Methods of producing layers of patterned graphene with smooth edges are provided. The methods comprise the steps of fabricating a layer of crystalline graphene on a surface, wherein the layer of crystalline graphene has a crystallographically disordered edge, and decreasing the crystallographic disorder of the edge of the layer of crystalline graphene by heating the layer of crystalline graphene on the surface at an elevated temperature in a catalytic environment comprising carbon-containing molecules.

Abstract: Crosslinkable random copolymers comprising atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators and crosslinked copolymer films formed from the copolymers are provided. The random copolymers, which are polymerized from one or more alkyl halide functional inimers and one or more monomers having a crosslinkable functionality, are characterized by pendant ATRP initiating groups and pendant crosslinkable groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer films and microarrays built from the crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer films. Microarrays incorporating the copolymers include a substrate on which a film of the crosslinked epoxy-functional copolymer is disposed and target molecules bound to the copolymer film. The crosslinked polymer films are well-suited for use as scaffolds for target molecules in microarrays because they provide a high density of binding sites for the target molecules, are mechanically stable, and may be coated onto a wide range of substrates.

Abstract: Methods for forming carbon nanotube arrays are provided. Also provided are the arrays formed by the methods and electronic devices that incorporate the array as active layers. The arrays are formed by flowing a fluid suspension of carbon nanotubes through a confined channel under conditions that create a velocity gradient across the flowing suspension.

Abstract: High density films of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes having a high degree of nanotube alignment are provided. Also provided are methods of making the films and field effect transistors (FETs) that incorporate the films as conducting channel materials. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are deposited from a thin layer of organic solvent containing solubilized single-walled carbon nanotubes that is spread over the surface of an aqueous medium, inducing evaporative self-assembly upon contacting a solid substrate.