Effects of hydrophilic unit and its distribution on interfacial binding between single-walled carbon nanotubes, vinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl acetate copolymers

► Intermolecular interaction energies between SWCNT and copolymer computed. ► Interaction between SWCNT and copolymer is influenced by monomer distribution. ► Interactions of the alternative copolymer with SWCNT have the maximum values.