Thermosensitive Nanocables Prepared by Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization
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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering
Published on: June 1, 2016
Qingshan Wei1, Wenbo Zhou, Jian Ji
1Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Thermosensitive nanocables consisting of Au nanowire cores and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) sheaths (denoted as Au/PNIPAAm) were synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). The formation of PNIPAAm sheath was verified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) results confirmed the core/shell structure of nanohybrids. The thickness and density of PNIPAAm sheaths can be adjusted by controlling the amount of cross-linker during the polymerization. Signature temperature response was observed from Au/cross-linked-PNIPAAm nanocables. Such smart nanocables show immense potentials as building blocks for novel thermosensitive nanodevices in future.
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