Mechanically enhanced supramolecular carbon nanotube (CNT) films were prepared in water by employing the π-electronrich phenyl, naphthalenyl, and pyrenyl end-functionalized polyethylene oxides (PEOs) as supramolecular linkers, followed by vacuum filtration. Among them, the supramolecular CNT film produced by the pyrenyl end-functionalized PEO (PEOPy) exhibited the highest mechanical strength, which was ~ 1.5–2 times higher than that of the CNT films produced using the typical dispersant, Triton X-100, although the functionality of PEO-Py was lower than that prepared using other linkers, and the content of PEO-Py in the CNT films was lower than that obtained using Triton X-100. Fluorescence and UV–Vis spectroscopy demonstrated that the improved mechanical properties of the supramolecular CNT film result from the formation of π–π interactions between the CNT and the pyrene moieties of the PEO-Py linker. Finally, the supramolecular CNT film exhibited a 40–50 dB electromagnetic shielding efficiency through hybridization with silver nanowires.

Preparation of mechanically enhanced supramolecular carbon nanotube (CNT) film using a water-soluble π–π bonding linker
    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Materials
        2.2 Preparation of the water-soluble supramolecular linkers with π-electron-rich end-functionalities
        2.3 Preparation of the CNT films
        2.4 Characterization
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Synthesis of the supramolecular linkers
        3.2 Preparation and characterization of the supramolecular CNT films
    4 Conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Jun‑Woo Lee(Department of Information Communication, Materials and Chemistry Convergence Technology, Soongsil University)
• Moonseong Yoo(Department of Information Communication, Materials and Chemistry Convergence Technology, Soongsil University)
• Kun Won Kim(Department of Information Communication, Materials and Chemistry Convergence Technology, Soongsil University)
• Hyein Jeong(Department of Information Communication, Materials and Chemistry Convergence Technology, Soongsil University)
• Jae Woo Chung(Department of Information Communication, Materials and Chemistry Convergence Technology, Soongsil University/Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Soongsil University)