Cross-linking carbon nanotubes by glycidyl azide polymer via click chemistry

Functionalization and cross linking of carbon nanotubes was necessary to fabricate nanotube composites with good interfacial properties and mechanical performance. Glycidyl azide polymer was used as cross-linker of carbon nanotubes via a simple clickable one step reaction initiated by decomposition of azide groups. Both heating and UV irradiation were used to carry out the reaction. FTIR and Raman spectra confirmed the decomposition of azide groups and the anchoring of glycidyl azide polymer onto the surface of carbon nanotubes. Thermal gravity analysis showed that the polymer anchored onto carbon nanotubes was about 10% of the total mass in the solid product, but the efficiency of the reaction was low. The result of tensile test using bulky paper infiltrated with 10% GAP showed that cross linking could bring forth a higher strength, about 4 times higher than the not cross linked. The success of cross linking carbon nanotubes by glycidyl azide polymer paves a new way to fabrication of ultra strong carbon nanotube composites.