Non-covalent stabilization and functionalization of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) by organic polymers: formation of complex BNNSs-containing structures

摘要

The straightforward non-covalent functionalization and solubilization of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) has been achieved by reacting either polythiophene or polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers with exfoliated BNNSs. The BNNSs apparently form strong pi-pi stacking interactions with the polymers to yield stable derivatized nanosheets with modified properties. A number of polythiophene polymers functionalized with carboxylic acid groups that are connected to the thiophene subunit by varying numbers of CH2-hydrocarbon linker units have also been tethered to the exfoliated BNNSs. These BNNS-polythiophene-(CH2)(n)-COOH structures have been further coordinated to pre-formed TiO2 nanoparticles to form more complex BNNS-polythiophene(CH2)(n)-COO-TiO2 hybrid nanomaterials through covalent binding between the TiO2 nanoparticle surface and the carboxylic acid functional group of the BNNS-polythiophene unit. These novel structures have been characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, and other spectroscopic data.