Selective interaction of a semiconjugated organic polymer with single-wall nanotubes

Hybrid systems of a semiconjugated organic polymer and single-wall nanotubes have been characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that solutions of the polymer are capable of suspending nanotubes indefinitely while the majority of the accompanying amorphous graphite precipitates out of solution. Electron microscopy and Raman scattering indicate that through an intercalation process, the ropes of nanotubes are destroyed, resulting in individual nanotubes being well dispersed within the polymer matrix. Moreover, Raman and absorption studies suggest that the polymer interacts preferentially with nanotubes of specific diameters or a range of diameters.