Ultrasonically induced polymerization and polymer grafting in the presence of carbonaceous nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanotechnology refers to technologies using at least one nanometric dimension. Most advances have been in the field of nanomaterials used in research and industry. The vast potential of polymeric nanocomposites for advanced materials and applications such as hybrid nanocomposites with customized electrical conductivity, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fog properties have attracted considerable attention. The number of studies on the preparation of nanocomposites in the presence of carbon materials, i.e., carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene, has intensified over the last decade with the growing interest in their outstanding synergic properties. However, the functionality of such nanocomposites depends on overcoming three key challenges: (a) the breakdown of nanoparticle agglomerates; (b) the attachment of functional materials to the nanoparticle surfaces; and (c) the fine dispersion of functional nanoparticles within the polymeric matrices. Ultrasonic polymerization and grafting in the presence of nanoparticles is an innovative solution that can meet these three challenges simultaneously. These chemical reactions are less well known and only a few research groups have dealt with them to date. This review focuses on two main pathways to the design of ultrasonically induced carbon-based nanocomposites: the covalent approach which is based on the chemical interactions between the carbon fillers and the matrix, and the non-covalent approach which is based on the physical interactions.