Synthesis and characterisation of carbon nanotubes covalently functionalized with amphiphilic polymer coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles

Herein, we report the synthesis of three covalently linked superparamagnetic nanocrystal-multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites. A generic strategy for amphiphilic polymer coating of nanocrystals and further functionalization for amide bond formation with the MWCNTs is discussed. This approach can in principle allow attachment of any colloidal nanocrystal to the MWCNTs. The materials were characterized at each stage of the syntheses using DLS, zeta-potential measurements, FT-IR, TEM, and XPS techniques. The practicality of this linkage is demonstrated by the reversible magnetic immobilization of these materials on an electrode during non-aqueous electrochemistry.