Noncovalent‐wrapped sidewall functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polyimide

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) purified by sulfuric acid and nitric acid were functionalized with polyimide (PI) via an in situ polymerization in N,N-diemethyformamide. The transmission electron microscopic and scan electron microscopic images showed that the functionalized MWNTs were wrapped by PI. The results of infrared, Raman, and UV–vis display that there was π-π-stacking interaction between imide and benzene ring in PI and the graphitic sidewalls of the MWNTs. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results indicate that the thermal stability of the functionalized MWNTs with PI was improved. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:36–41, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers