Polymer and method for using the polymer for solubilizing nanotubes

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 π-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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of solubilizing a nanotube, said method comprising: 
 presenting a polymer with said nanotube; and    said polymer noncovalently bonding with said nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion, wherein said polymer comprises at least one functional portion for solubilizing said nanotube.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said presenting comprises: 
 mixing said polymer to said nanotube in a solvent.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said solvent comprises an organic solvent.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said solvent comprises an aqueous solvent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said polymer comprises a backbone portion that noncovalently bonds with said nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion via π-stacking.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said nanotube is a carbon nanotube.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said polymer comprises poly(aryleneethynylene).  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said polymer comprises poly(phenyleneethynylene).  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said polymer comprises poly(3-decylthiophene).  
     
     
         10 . A product resulting from the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A composition of matter comprising at least one nanotube solubilized by the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . A polymer for solubilizing nanotubes, said polymer comprising: 
 a backbone portion for noncovalently bonding with a nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion; and    at least one functional portion for solubilizing said nanotube.    
     
     
         13 . The polymer of  claim 12  wherein said backbone portion comprises a portion selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd, and Pt, n)  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein each of R 1 -R 8  in the above-listed backbone portions a)-q) represents a functional group.  
     
     
         14 . The polymer of  claim 12  comprising poly(aryleneethynylene).  
     
     
         15 . The polymer of  claim 14  comprising at least 4 of said functional portions (R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 ), wherein said functional portions comprise functional portions selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) R 1 ═R 4 ═H and R 2 ═R 3 ═OC 10 H 21 ,  
 b) R 1 ═R 2 ═R 3 ═R 4 ═F,  
 c) R 1 ═R 4 ═H and R 2 ═R 3 ═ 
                     
 d) R 1 ═R 4 ═H and R 2 ═R 3 ═ 
                     
 
     
     
         16 . The polymer of  claim 12  comprising poly(phenyleneethynylene).  
     
     
         17 . The polymer of  claim 12  comprising poly(3-decylthiophene).  
     
     
         18 . The polymer of  claim 12  wherein said nanotube is a carbon nanotube.  
     
     
         19 . The polymer of  claim 12  wherein said backbone portion is capable of interacting with said nanotube's surface via π-stacking.  
     
     
         20 . The polymer of  claim 12  wherein said at least one functional portion comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: 
 H, OC 10 H 21 , F,  
                     
 
     
     
         21 . A process comprising: 
 mixing at least one polymer with at least one nanotube in a solvent; and    said mixing results in said at least one polymer forming a noncovalent bond with said at least one nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion and said at least one polymer solubilizing said at least one nanotube.    
     
     
         22 . A product resulting from the process of  claim 21 .  
     
     
         23 . A composition of matter comprising at least one nanotube solubilized by the process of  claim 21 .  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said at least one nanotube is a carbon nanotube.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said at least one polymer comprises a backbone portion for forming said noncovalent bond with said at least one nanotube.  
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said backbone interacts with said at least one nanotube's surface via π-stacking.  
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 21  wherein said solvent comprises one selected from the group consisting of: 
 CHCl 3 , chlorobenzene, water, acetic acid, acetone, acetonitrile, aniline, benzene, benzonitrile, benzyl alcohol, bromobenzene, bromoform, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, chloroform, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, decalin, dibromethane, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol ethers, diethyl ether, diglyme, dimethoxymethane, N,N-dimethylformamide, ethanol, ethylamine, ethylbenzene, ethylene glycol ethers, ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, formic acid, glycerol, heptane, hexane, iodobenzene, mesitylene, methanol, methoxybenzene, methylamine, methylene bromide, methylene chloride, methylpyridine, morpholine, naphthalene, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, octane, pentane, pentyl alcohol, phenol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, pyridine, pyrrole, pyrrolidine, quinoline, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, tetralin, tetramethylethylenediamine, thiophene, toluene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, triethylamine, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, m-xylene, o-xylene, p-xylene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene.  
 
     
     
         28 . A method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes, said method comprising: 
 mixing at least one polymer with at least one carbon nanotube in a solvent;    said at least one polymer interacting with said at least one carbon nanotube's surface via π-stacking; and    said at least one polymer solubilizing said at least one carbon nanotube.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said at least one polymer noncovalently bonds with said at least one carbon nanotube in a non-wrapping fashion.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said at least one polymer comprises poly(aryleneethynylene).  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said at least one polymer comprises poly(phenyleneethynylene).  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said at least one polymer comprises poly(3-decylthiophene).  
     
     
         33 . A product resulting from the process of  claim 28 .  
     
     
         34 . A composition of matter comprising at least one carbon nanotube solubilized by the process of  claim 28.