No abstract

The scalable superacid solvent, radical-initiated aryldiazonium functionalization process produces individual SWNTs without the need for surfactant wrapping, centrifugation, or sonication. This work provides a facile pathway to aryl sulfonic acid-functionalized SWNTs that are not roped or bundled, and the functionalized nanotubes are water soluble.

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are exfoliated and functionalized predominantly as individuals by grinding them for minutes at room temperature with aryldiazonium salts in the presence of ionic liquids (ILs) and K(2)CO(3). This constitutes an extremely rapid and mild green chemical functionalization process for obtaining the individualized nanotube structures. A number of ILs and various reaction conditions were surveyed. Raman, XPS, UV/vis/NIR spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, and atomic force and transmission electron microscopies were used to characterize the products.