Solubilizing polycarbonate-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes by simultaneously attaching octadecylamine

To dissolve polycarbonate-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes, octadecylamine was simultaneously attached to carbon nanotubes by ammonification. The functionalized carbon nanotubes are soluble in highly or normal polar organic solvents due to different polycarbonates: the poly (butylene-co-ε-caprolactone carbonate) and octadecylamine-modified carbon nanotubes can dissolve in highly polar organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide; the poly[(propylene oxide)-co-(carbon dioxide)-co-(maleic anhydride)] and octadecylamine-modified carbon nanotubes can dissolve in normal polar organic solvents such as chloroform and dichloromethane. The so-obtained composites were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.