(70h) Fabrication and Application of Highly Dispersible Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes-Polymer Composite

A considerable amount of research has been devoted to carbon nanotubes because of their unique electrical and chemical properties. In this work, we use a UV initiated ?graft from? polymerization method to fabricate single wall carbon nanotubes with pendant polymer chains of various functionalities. Polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate (PEGMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) were copolymerized directly from the sidewall of carbon nanotubes. The use of the PEGMA monomer greatly enhanced dispersability, while the epoxide group belonging to GMA can be used as a reactive site for coupling with various species (enzymes, proteins, macromolecules, etc.) A model enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, was used to study the loading efficiency and retention of activity. Samples with various ratios of the two monomers were fabricated to optimize their use in aqueous environments.