Abstract: Electrical, thermal and mechanical applications are provided for nanocomposite materials having low percolation thresholds for electrical conductivity, low percolation thresholds for thermal conductivity, or improved mechanical properties.
Abstract: Poly(aryleneethynylene) polymers, poly(ferrocenylaryleneethynylene) polymers and poly(ferrocenylethynylene) polymers having properties particularly useful for solubilizing nanomaterials and for effecting subsequent re-solubilization of a solid polymer-solubilized nanomaterial, and compositions and methods thereto are provided.
Abstract: A new, non-wrapping approach to solubilize nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes, in organic and inorganic solvents is provided. In accordance with certain embodiments, carbon nanotube surfaces are functionalized in a non-wrapping fashion by functional conjugated polymers that include functional groups for solubilizing such nanotubes. Various embodiments provide polymers that noncovalently bond with carbon nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion. For example, various embodiments of polymers are provided that comprise a relatively rigid backbone that is suitable for noncovalently bonding with a carbon nanotube substantially along the nanotube's length, as opposed to about its diameter. In preferred polymers, the major interaction between the polymer backbone and the nanotube surface is parallel ?-stacking. The polymers further comprise at least one functional extension from the backbone that are any of various desired functional groups that are suitable for solubilizing a carbon nanotube.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 20, 2004
Date of Patent:
July 17, 2007
Assignees:
Zyvex Performance Materials, LLC, The University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
Abstract: A new, non-wrapping approach to functionalizing nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes, in organic and inorganic solvents is provided. In accordance with certain embodiments, carbon nanotube surfaces are functionalized in a non-wrapping fashion by functional conjugated polymers that include functional groups. Various embodiments provide polymers that noncovalently bond with carbon nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion. For example, various embodiments of polymers are provided that comprise a relatively rigid backbone that is suitable for noncovalently bonding with a carbon nanotube substantially along the nanotube's length, as opposed to about its diameter. In preferred polymers, the major interaction between the polymer backbone and the nanotube surface is parallel ?-stacking. In certain implementations, the polymers further comprise at least one functional extension from the backbone that are any of various desired functional groups for functionalizing a carbon nanotube.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 20, 2004
Date of Patent:
July 10, 2007
Assignees:
Zyvex Performance Materials, LLC., The University of Pittsburgh — of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education