Since PACl provided numerous reactive sites, a large quantity of MWCNTs could be assembled surrounding the GnPs. Main text Experimental section Materials MWCNTs-OH (95% pure, length of <5 μm, main range of outer diameter was 20 to 40 nm) were purchased from Shenzhen Nanotech Port Co Ltd. (Shenzhen, China). Graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) (diameter of 1 to 20 μm, thickness of 5 to 15 nm) were purchased from Xiamen Knano Graphene Technology Co. Ltd. (Xiamen, China). Acryloyl chloride was supplied by J & K Scientific Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Nitric acid, sulfuric acid, GF120918 molecular weight tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,4-dioxane

and 2,2′-azosiobutyrontrile (AIBN) were provided by Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Preparation of carbon nanotubes/graphene hybrid materials The pristine GnPs were treated with the mixture H2SO4/HNO3 (1:1 v/v) to obtain the hydroxylated-GnPs (GnPs-OH) [14]. PACl was prepared via free radical polymerization of acryloyl chloride at 60°C in 1,4-dioxane in the presence of AIBN for 48 h in nitrogen atmosphere. The above-obtained PACl was introduced into the suspension of MWCNTs-OH in anhydrous 1,4-dioxane and kept

stirred for 48 h under nitrogen atmosphere. MWCNTs-PACl were obtained by collecting after being washed and filtrated repeatedly with THF until pH = 7. Then GnPs-OH were suspended in 1,4-dioxane by ultrasonic dispersion for 4 h. The obtained GnPs-OH suspension and triethylamine were introduced into MWCNTs-PACl suspension and subsequently kept stirred for 48 h at 80°C selleck chemicals under

nitrogen atmosphere [11]. All the samples of functionalized MWCNTs were soaked SB-3CT in THF for 1 week and then washed repeatedly with THF until pH = 7, followed by drying under vacuum for 12 h at 50°C. The weight of the samples after these processes was almost unchanged, which indicated that the polymer layer was indeed covalently linked to the carbon nanotubes. The synthesis method as described above was presented in Figure 1. Figure 1 Illustration of the synthesis procedure of MWCNTs/GnPs hybrid materials. Characterizations The morphologies of the products were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM, Hitachi SU1510; Hitachi Ltd. (China), Beijing, China) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM, H-800-1), with the accelerating voltage of 20 to 30 kV, respectively. The microstructures of the samples were analyzed by Fourier transform LY3039478 mw infrared spectroscope (FTIR, Nexus 670; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hudson, NH, USA) and Raman spectrometer. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted on a TGA/SDTA851e instrument at a heating rate of 10°C/min in a nitrogen flow. Discussion The morphology analysis Figure 2 compared the morphology of various nanomaterials. As shown in Figure 2, it could be found that a large quantity of MWCNTs-OH entangled and overlapped into a network structure.