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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering
Published on: June 1, 2016
Twofold pH and temperature stimuli-responsive behaviour in block copolypeptide-decorated single wall carbon nanotubes
Chaoxu Li1, Jozef Adamcik, Afang Zhang
1Food & Soft Materials Science, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Temperature- and pH-responsive dispersions of carbon nanotubes in water have been obtained by using di- and tri-block copolypeptides, in which the temperature responsive behaviour is provided by a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) block, while the pH responsiveness is provided by two different polypeptides with an ampholytic behaviour, poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(L-lysine). The molecular architectures of the block copolypeptides can be engineered to fine-tune the stimuli-responsive behaviour.

