Design of carbon nanotube-polymer frameworks by electropolymerization of SWCNT-pyrrole derivatives

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been functionalized by electropolymerizable pyrrole groups following covalent and non-covalent strategies. The covalent pyrrole grafting was carried out by ester formation between pyrrole alcohol and chemically oxidized SWCNT. The strong π-interactions between pyrene and SWCNT were exploited for the non-covalent adsorption of a new pyrene-pyrrole derivative on the pristine nanotube surface. The pyrrole-ester-SWCNT was solubilized in THF and electropolymerized by controlled potential electrolysis at 0.95 V. The pyrene-pyrrole SWCNT was spread on an electrode surface and electropolymerized in its adsorbed state at 0.95 V in CH3CN. The reinforced nanostructured polypyrrole SWCNT-framework was investigated with scanning electron microscopy.