Preparation of silica-layered multi-walled carbon nanotubes activated by grafting of poly(4-vinylpyridine)

Herein, uniformly silica coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated by step reactions with minimized damage of CNTs during oxidation process. First, hydroxyl groups were generated on the surface of CNTs using KMnO4 in conjunction with tetrapropyl ammonium bromide (TPABr) as a phase transfer catalyst, followed by the grafting of a vinyl group carrying silane coupling agent, methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (MPTMS). Utilizing terminal vinyl groups in in-situ solution polymerization, poly(4-vinylpyrridine) (P4VP) brush was grown from the CNTs which promotes the acid–base interaction between CNTs and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). By means of well-known ammonia catalyzed sol–gel reaction of TEOS in the presence of P4VP-functionalized CNTs, uniformly silica-coated CNTs were obtained. The thickness of the silica layer could be readily controlled by the amounts of reactants. After calcination of silica-coated CNTs, only outer silica remained which resulted in silica nanotubes.