A new, non-wrapping approach to functionalizing nanotubes, such as carbon nanotubes,
in organic and inorganic solvents is provided. In accordance with certain embodiments,
carbon nanotube surfaces are functionalized in a non-wrapping fashion by functional
conjugated polymers that include functional groups. Various embodiments provide
polymers that noncovalently bond with carbon nanotubes in a non-wrapping fashion.
For example, various embodiments of polymers are provided that comprise a relatively
rigid backbone that is suitable for noncovalently bonding with a carbon nanotube
substantially along the nanotube's length, as opposed to about its diameter. In
preferred polymers, the major interaction between the polymer backbone and the
nanotube surface is parallel -stacking. In certain implementations, the
polymers further comprise at least one functional extension from the backbone that
are any of various desired functional groups for functionalizing a carbon nanotube.
