Tubular shaped composites made from polythiophene covalently linked to Prato functionalized N-doped carbon nanotubes

A simple methodology to produce tubular nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube/polythiophene covalently linked composites is described. Nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) were made by the floating catalyst CVD method using toluene, ferrocene and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as reagents. Functionalization of the N-CNTs was achieved using 3-thiophenecarboxaldehyde and N-methylglycine in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (Prato reaction). Elemental analysis showed nitrogen incorporation of N into the N-CNTs (1.8%) and also the N-methylglycine functionalized N-CNTs (f-N-CNTs; 6.2%). A series of f-N-CNT/thiophene monomer mixtures (weight ratios 1:3, 1:10 and 1:20) were used to make f-N-CNT/polythiophene tubular composites. As the amount of thiophene monomer was increased, the overall diameter of the polymer layer attached onto the N-CNTs increased. Polymer thickness also varied with reaction time (1 h, 12 h and 24 h). The combination of acid functionalization and N–doping gives the best coverage of the CNTs by polythiophene, in which the polythiophene preferentially binds to the f-N-CNTs to give tubular structures.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► N-CNTs were synthesized and functionalized with a Prato reagent. ► The functionalized N-CNTs were polymerized with thiophene. ► The composites had a tubular structure with width determined by reagent ratios.