Facile strategy for preparation of core-shell-structured carbon nanotube-ionic liquid hybrids

Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with ionic liquids (IL) is an efficient method to improve the dispersibility and reactivity of MWCNTs. This work introduces a promising method for fabricating core-shell-structured MWCNTs-IL hybrids by using vinyl-benzyl IL as monomer for in situ controlled free-radical polymerization. Active radicals attached on the MWCNTs surface initiate the copolymerization of divinyl monomer and polymerizable IL. A polymer layer containing ionic species is formed and coated on the outer surface of MWCNTs. The resulting well-defined material shows excellent dielectric properties with different coating layer thicknesses.