Formylation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Suri, Anil; Coleman, Karl S.

Abstract

We report an improved, elegant method for the covalent formylation of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) via formyl transfer from N-formylpiperidine, which could potentially open the gateway for more versatile chemical modification of carbon nanotube (CNT) walls than is possible via other reported functionalisation methods. The formylation reaction does not inflict damage upon the pristine CNT structure, unlike the currently commonly used carboxylation route, and involves much fewer steps, and takes considerably less time, than most other reported routes. The modified SWNTs have been characterised by Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectroscopy and "covalent tagging" with derivatising groups followed by thermogravimetric analysis-mass spectroscopy (TGA-MS). UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy shows that there is only limited disruption of the intrinsic electronic structure of the SWNTs. This is confirmed from estimates of the extent of functionalisation from TGA-MS, which suggest that it may be as low as 2 atomic per cent.

Citation

Suri, A., & Coleman, K. S. (2012). Formylation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 12(3), 2929-2933. https://doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2012.5696

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2012-03
• Deposit Date: May 21, 2014
• Journal: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
• Print ISSN: 1533-4880
• Electronic ISSN: 1533-4899
• Publisher: American Scientific Publishers
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 2929-2933
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2012.5696
• Keywords: Carbon Nanotubes Nanocarbon Chemical Modification Covalent Functionalisation Formylation Chemistry Reduction sidewall functionalization solubilization water noncovalent
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1432686