Design and synthesis of water-soluble photosensitive α-cyclodextrin and its application in dispersing carbon nanotubes

Abstract

This manuscript describes the use of a novel water-soluble photosensitive α-cyclodextrin modified coumarin (α-CD-C) to disperse carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water. First, using epichlorohydrin as the bridged unit, water-soluble α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) was introduced to modify 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and prepare α-CD-C. α-CD-C was characterized with hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectra ( 1H-NMR) and High pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The photodimerization experiment showed that α-CD-C could photodimerize upon 365 nm irradiation, and then photo-de-crosslink upon the subsequent 254 nm irradiation. Next, α-CD-C was used to disperse CNTs in water. Transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope demonstrated that α-CD-C effectively adsorbed onto the surface of CNTs. The α-CD-C is an efficient dispersant for CNTs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.