Interactions of anionic polysaccharides with carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Agarose, i-, k-, and l-carrageenans, and xanthan gum in aqueous solutions interacted with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as proven by their wetting in solution and by the microRaman spectroscopy, rheological studies, and differential scanning calorimetry. The investigations provided evidence that the effect of complexation of polysaccharides was independent of the possibility of the formation of helical complexes. Complexation involved, to a certain extent, interactions between hydrophobic surface of nanotubes and hydrophobic sides of the saccharide units of polysaccharides. However, clathration of nanotubes in the polysaccharide matrices was also essential. Formation of the clathrate cages involved intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds within polysaccharides.