Flexible 3D conformation of single-walled CNTs/PEG hybrid wormlike structure: PEG lamellae self-assembly on CNT in supercritical CO2

Fabrication of nanocomposites with regular patterns at the nano- and microscopic scale is the great challenges in nanotechnology. Decorating nanoparticles with a polymer crystal or within the polymer matrix to achieve the tailored morphologies, and thereby control the macroscopic behavior and yield the desired properties is attractive. For this functional design, the supermolecular structure of polymer is of great significance and it means the way of chain packing, dimensions and shape of its constituent elements, even spatial arrangement and organization of the crystallites into larger structure. Here we present supercritical CO₂ can be used as a nice background to induce poly (ethylene glycol) to assembly on carbon nanotube, and form the hybrid worm supermolecular structure. We believe that this discovery may be of a general nature for SC CO₂ and it could be applied to many other soft mater or complex fluid. Also it is anticipated that this work will motive more theoretical and experimental studies about the host-guest interaction between carbon nanotubes and other organic compound systems.