A Novel Route for Polystyrene Grafted Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and their Characterization

Abstract

Abstract A novel route to graft polystyrene from the surface of single walled carbon nanotubes has been discussed. Grafting of one styrene unit onto SWCNT sidewalls was successfully done by Friedel Craft acylation reaction using cheap and reusable ZnO catalyst. FT‐IR and Raman spectra and TGA show the effective grafting of styrene onto the SWCNT. End‐grafted polystyrene polymer was synthesized on the SWCNT surface by free radical polymerization. It is found that optimum monomer concentration, reaction temperature and time exist. NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy confirm the grafting of polystyrene from the SWCNT surface. Little change in the nature of SWCNT is observed from Raman spectroscopy. Nanocomposite films prepared using polystyrene and functionalized carbon nanotubes exhibits low volume resistivity. magnified image