title: Synthesis and characterization of poly(butylene oxide) grafted carbon nanofibers.
abstract: The grafting of polybutylene oxide onto purified and functionalized carbon nanofibers is reported. Grafting was possible after the insertion of 2-(formyloxy)ethyl 2-bromo-2-methylpropanoate onto the carbon nanofibers. The polymerization of tetrahydrofuran was mediated by copper(I) bromide and 1,1,4,7-pentamethyl diethylenetriamine. The polymer-grafted carbon nanofibers were characterized by Raman spectrsocopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Thermogravimetric Analysis. TEM images of CNF-COOH (A), CNF-PBO (B), completely open tip of CNF-COOH, and coated tip of CNF-PBO (D) are shown in the left panel. The right panel depicts the distribution of bromine (blue), and carbon (red) atoms inside and in the vicinity of CNF-Br (as obtained by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy). The bottom shows the actual doped CNF. Preliminary data showed that these modified fibers have potential applications as smart (electrorheological) fluids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, Texas 78539, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chipara
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Jose J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gutierrez