Polymer composites containing nanotubes

A polymer composite produced by forming an aggregate of one or more functionalized m-phenylenevinylene-2,5-disubstituted-p-phenylenevinylene polymers with carbon nanotubes, adding the aggregate to a base polymer precursor composition, and polymerizing the base polymer;

• wherein said functionalized m-phenylenevinylene-2,5-disubstituted-p-phenylenevinylene polymers are m-phenylenevinylene-2,5-disubstituted-p-phenylenevinylene polymers having the repeat unit:
• wherein n is an integer indicating the number of repeating units in the polymer;
• R1 and R2 independently are selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an alkyl ether group, and an optionally substituted alkyl group;
• wherein the substituents on the alkenyl or alkyl group are one or more groups selected from the group of consisting of halogens, OH groups, —COX groups, COOR3 groups, —COO− groups, —N(R3)2 groups, —N(R3)3+ groups, epoxy groups:
• and —Si(R5)3 groups;
• wherein X is a halogen or an activated ester group, each R4 independently is H or an alkyl group, and each R3 and R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a halogenated alkyl group, and a halogenated alkenyl group;
• and wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is a group other than an unsubstituted alkyl group.

A functionalized m-phenylenevinylene-2,5-disubstituted-p-phenylenevinylene polymer having the repeating unit:

• wherein n is an integer indicating the number of repeating units in the polymer;
• R1 and R2 independently are selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkenyl group and an optionally substituted alkyl group;
• wherein the substituents on the alkenyl or alkyl group are one or more groups selected from the group of consisting of halogens, OH groups, —COX groups, COOR3 groups, —COO− groups, epoxy groups:
• and —Si(R5)3 groups;
• wherein X is a halogen or an activated ester group, each R4 independently is H or an alkyl group, and each R3 and R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, a halogenated alkyl group, and a halogenated alkenyl group;
• and wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is a group other than an unsubstituted alkyl group.