title: Molecular design of strong single-wall carbon nanotube/polyelectrolyte multilayer composites.
abstract: The mechanical failure of hybrid materials made from polymers and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) is primarily attributed to poor matrix-SWNT connectivity and severe phase segregation. Both problems can be successfully mitigated when the SWNT composite is made following the protocol of layer-by-layer assembly. This deposition technique prevents phase segregation of the polymer/SWNT binary system, and after subsequent crosslinking, the nanometre-scale uniform composite with SWNT loading as high as 50 wt% can be obtained. The free-standing SWNT/polyelectrolyte membranes delaminated from the substrate were found to be exceptionally strong with a tensile strength approaching that of hard ceramics. Because of the lightweight nature of SWNT composites, the prepared free-standing membranes can serve as components for a variety of long-lifetime devices.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA.
authors.forename: Arif A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mamedov
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kotov
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Guldi
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wicksted
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004548:Elasticity; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004573:Electrolytes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C006903:carbopol 940; D011094:Polyethyleneimine