| Abstract
| - Herringbone graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)−polymer brushes are prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using the “grafted-from” synthesis strategy. Initiated polymerization of (meth)acrylate monomers at GCNF surface sites affords hydrophobic GCNF−poly(n-butyl acrylate), GCNF−poly(isobutyl methacrylate), and GCNF−poly(tert-butyl acrylate) polymer brushes. Acid hydrolysis of the GCNF−poly(tert-butyl acrylate) polymer brush gives a hydrophilic GCNF−poly(acrylic acid) polymer brush. The average surface density of polymer brush chains is ca. 3 polymer chains/10 nm2. A wide range of GCNF−polymer brush materials are now potentially available.
- Herringbone graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF)−polymer brushes are prepared by atom transfer radicalpolymerization (ATRP) using the “grafted-from” synthesis strategy. Polymerization of acrylate estersoccurs at surface sites covalently derivatized with ATRP initiators to form GCNF−poly(n-butyl acrylate),GCNF−poly(isobutyl methacrylate), and GCNF−poly(tert-butyl acrylate) polymer brushes. Acidhydrolysis of the GCNF−poly(tert-butyl acrylate) polymer brush gives a GCNF−poly(acrylic acid)polymer brush. Solution dispersibilities of GCNF−polymer brushes are controlled by the solubilityproperties of the polymer brush component, with GCNF−poly(acrylate ester) brushes being hydrophobic,whereas the GCNF−poly(acrylic acid) brush is hydrophilic. Because of the unique atomic structure ofGCNFs, a high surface density (ca. 3 chains/10 nm2 of GCNF surface) of polymer brush functionalizationis realized.
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