Grafting of Poly(tBA) and PtBA‐b‐PMMA onto the Surface of SWNTs Using Carbanions as the Initiator

Summary: Soluble carbon nanotubes were prepared by treating SWNTs with sec‐butyllithium and subsequently using the generated carbanions as the initiator to graft PtBA and PtBA‐b‐PMMA onto the surface of SWNTs. The anionic polymerization initiated by SWNTs‐bearing carbanions not only provides a powerful strategy for functionalizing SWNTs but also gives us knowledge of the sidewall chemistry of SWNTs. The results indicate that a carbanion born on SWNTs behaves like an anionic initiator with high steric hindrance. Anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylate monomer. image Anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylate monomer.