A chitosan (CS)-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) composite (CS-MWCNT) was prepared via covalently grafting a biocompatible polymer CS onto the surfaces of MWCNT and was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The interaction between MWCNT and CS was investigated and explained according to the FTIR and UV–vis results. More evidence for the presence of the CS-MWCNT was confirmed by TEM images. In the TEM images, a core-shell structure with nanotubes in the center and a CS layer lying around them was observed. The electrochemical properties of the CS-MWCNT were characterized by an electrodeposition method that involves depositing it on a Au electrode. The porous microstructure of the CS-MWCNT modified electrode was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The excellent electrocatalytic ability of the CS-MWCNT modified electrode towards hydrogen peroxide is applicable to the development of oxidase-based amperometric biosensors.

tion between PANI and MWNTs and the nature of chain growth have been investigated and explained according to the results of FT-IR analysis. The improvement of thermal stability and crystallinity of the nanocomposites have been evaluated by using TGA and XRD. The mechanism of charge transport in these composites has also been studied by measuring the DC conductivity of all samples and examining the temperature–conductivity relations. MWNT alignment should be possible with other nanometer-sized building composites films, offering a general route for controlled assembly of organized nanomaterials and devices.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were grafted by chitosan (CS); the product could disperse well in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) aqueous solution with 2% (v/v) acetic acid solution.Because this product has potential in several biological fields, it was electrospun so as to enlarge the surface area. Raman spectra indicated that the electrospinning process did not severely alter the electron hybridization of carbon atoms within the nanotube framework. Moreover and interestingly, these nanofibers showed a novel sheath–core structure; the outer and inner diameters of these sheath–core nanofibers were about 200 nm and 100 nm,respectively. These nanofibers’ electrochemical properties were characterized by detection of hydrogen peroxide and voltammetric responses of potassium ferricyanide. The electrospun fibers’ web displayed faster electron transfer kinetics and better electrochemical properties than its cast film, which justified further applications in biological areas.

A new type of photo-responsive perylene diimide–azobenzene dyad (PDI–AZO) was synthesized by covalently adjoining azobenzene chromophore to N-imide position of perylene diimide. The optical properties, photoisomerization and self-assembly morphology of the resultant composites were characterized by UV–vis absorption, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and scanning electron microscope. Larger one-dimension nanobelts were observed in self-assembly PDI–AZO due to the strong molecule stacking. The red-shifted bands arise from the larger conjugation extension by p-electron overlap of perylene ring and azobenzene chromophore. The spectral changes upon the irradiation of ultraviolet light show that larger conjugation extension does not significantly affect the photochromism rate, but it retards the further photoisomerization of azobenzene units in PDI–AZO. The PL quenching of PDI–AZO is dominated by the transfer of the excitons before reverting to the ground state accompanied by the radiation due to the larger conjugation extension.  2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Perylene-sensitized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PV-MWNT) have been prepared by a π-stacking between nanotubes and perylene derivatives, N,N'-diphenyl glyoxaline-3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid diacidamide (PV). The resultant nanocomposites have been characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV–vis absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and photocurrent spectra. Long range ordering can be observed in the form of PV-MWNT via π-stacking by TEM. Red-shift in the optical spectra consisting of the UV–vis absorption and PL spectra with the attraction of PV on the surface of the MWNTs were observed. The evident quenching in PL spectra of PV-MWNT was ascribed to the absorption and transfer of recombination energy by MWNT. Photosensitivity spectra demonstrated an increasing photocurrent in the ultraviolet region and a broadening photosensitivity in the red spectral region for solar cells based on PV-MWNT.

Third-order nonlinear susceptibility X(3) and second-order hyperpolarizability y of poly{[3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl]-[p-aminobenzylidenequinomethane]-bonded multiwalled carbon nanotubes (POTABQ-MWNTs) were measured in chloroform solution using degenerate four-wave mixing at 532 nm under nanosecond pulse excitation. Effective nonlinear absorption coefficient βeff and nonlinear refraction index n2 were obtained using open aperture and close aperture Z-scan technique at the same wavelength, respectively. Optical limiting property of the sample was also investigated. The resulting POTABQ-MWNTs exhibited large third-order nonlinear optical responses mainly due to the formation of intramolecular photoinduced charge-transfer system of polymers and carbon nanotubes.

Azobenzene

Flexible self-assembled membrane and hollow spheres (1.7–4.6 μm in diameter) accompanied with self-assembled membrane of poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with acetic acid were synthesized in aqueous solution using ammonium persulfate as oxidant. Scanning electronic microscope imagines approved the flexible membrane and sphere-like morphologies and indicated a “grow from membrane” process. The mechanism of self-assemble phenomenonwas discussed by Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimeter. Itwas found that self-assembly was driven by the hydrogen bond between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomers and acetic acid. The concentration of acetic acid plays an essential role in the self-assemble process. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of them with different morphologies were also characterized by cyclic voltammetry.

Composite film containing titania electrostatically linked to oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2-s-MWNTs) was prepared from a suspension of TiO2 nanoparticles in soluble carbon nanotubes. The structure of the film was analysed principally by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron micrography and x-ray diffraction. The optical and electrical characterizations of the film were investigated by UV–vis spectrum, photoluminescence and photoconductivity. The enhancement of photocurrent in the TiO2-s-MWNT film is discussed by taking the photoinduced charge transfer between the MWNT and TiO2 into consideration.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanorods (80–150 nm in diameter) and nanospheres were synthesized through a self-assembly method using ferric chloride (FeCl3) and ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidants, respectively, and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) as the dopant. The PEDOT nanorods showed broader absorption bands, higher crystallinity and much higher room-temperature conductivity (approximately 300 S cm−1) than the PEDOT nanospheres. Such obviously distinct properties of these products were considered to be due to the much lower rate of polymerization with FeCl3 than APS, which made the growth of PEDOT according to the suggested cylinder micelles more moderate and regular; as a result, the morphology of the microstructure changed and the crystallinity, the doping level, the molecular orderliness and the conductivity of PEDOT synthesized under lower rate of polymerization improved intensely at the same time.