Bio-Inspired Supramolecular Chemistry Provides Highly Concentrated Dispersions of Carbon Nanotubes in Polythiophene

Abstract

In this paper we report the first observation, through X-ray diffraction, of noncovalent uracil–uracil (U–U) dimeric π-stacking interactions in carbon nanotube (CNT)–based supramolecular assemblies. The directionally oriented morphology determined using atomic force microscopy revealed highly organized behavior through π-stacking of U moieties in a U-functionalized CNT derivative (CNT–U). We developed a dispersion system to investigate the bio-inspired interactions between an adenine (A)-terminated poly(3-adeninehexyl thiophene) (PAT) and CNT–U. These hybrid CNT–U/PAT materials interacted through π-stacking and multiple hydrogen bonding between the U moieties of CNT–U and the A moieties of PAT. Most importantly, the U···A multiple hydrogen bonding interactions between CNT–U and PAT enhanced the dispersion of CNT–U in a high-polarity solvent (DMSO). The morphology of these hybrids, determined using transmission electron microscopy, featured grape-like PAT bundles wrapped around the CNT–U surface; this tight connection was responsible for the enhanced dispersion of CNT–U in DMSO.

Fabrication of Core-shell Type Alginate/CNT Composite Adsorbent Beads by Combined Method of Magnetic-field/electrospray: Effect of CNT Orientation on Adsorption of Methylene Blue and Environmental Applications

“…As reported in the literature, vibration of hydroxyl groups from intermolecular hydrogen-bonded OH:OH or unbound or free hydroxyl of phenol appears around 3200-3600 cm − 1 . Furthermore, the absorbance bands at 1640 − 1630 cm − 1 are related to the bending or deformation of the hydroxyl groups [38][39][40]. In Fig.…”