Noncovalent functionalization of boron nitride nanotubes with poly(p-phenylene-ethynylene)s and polythiophene.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are functionalized and solubilized in organic solvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, and tetrahydrofuran by using conjugated poly(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) (polymers A and B) and polythiophene (polymer C) via a noncovalent functionalization approach through strong pi-pi stacking interactions between the conjugated polymers and BNNTs. The functionalization of BNNTs with PPEs enhanced planarization of PPEs with red shifts in both absorbance and emission of the composite materials with reference to free PPEs, whereas the functionalization of BNNTs with polythiophene disrupts the pi-conjugation, resulting in blue shifts in both the absorption and emission of the composite material.