| abstract |
A new, non-wrapping approach to functionalizing nanotubes, such as carbonnnanotubes, in organic and inorganic solvents is provided. In accordance with certainnembodiments, carbon nanotube surfaces are functionalized in a non-wrapping fashion bynfunctional conjugated polymers that include functional groups. Various embodiments providenpolymers-that noncovalently bond with carbon nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion. Fornexample, various embodiments of polymers are provided that comprise a relatively rigidnbackbone that is suitable for noncovalently bonding with a carbon nanotube substantially alongnthe nanotube's length, as opposed to about its diameter. In preferred polymers, the majorninteraction between the polymer backbone and the nanotube surface is parallel π-stacking. Inncertain implementations, the polymers further comprise at least one functional extension fromnthe backbone that are any of various desired functional groups for functionalizing a carbonnnanotube. |