Characterization of Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes at Individual Nanotube-Thin Bundle Level

Abstract

Individual and thin bundles of aminopolymer-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were successfully imaged using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The corresponding electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) characterization of the same TEM specimen before and after ex situ thermal defunctionalization confirmed that the nanotube surface was covered with nitrogen-containing functionalities in the functionalized SWNT sample.

Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Tethered with Porphyrins: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

“…This soft material, which may be attributed to the tethered porphyrin functionalities, could largely be removed via an ex situ thermal treatment at 370 C in air for 30 min, as confirmed in subsequent TEM imaging. [20] Overall, the spectroscopy and microscopy characterizations of the porphyrin±SWNT samples are consistent with the nanotubes being functionalized with the tethered porphyrin derivatives. Structurally, the porphyrin-attached SWNTs should be similar to the pyrene-containing dendron-functionalized SWNTs.…”

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced nylon 6 composites

“…These reactive groups on CNTs greatly enhance the coupling of CNTs with polymer matrix, thus improve the mechanical strength of the nanocomposites [13]. Sidewall functionalization of CNTs with organic chains or functional groups is another efficient way to improve the dispersion and strengthen the coupling of CNTs with polymer matrix [14,15].…”

Investigation of non-covalent association of single-walled carbon nanotube with amylose by molecular dynamics simulation

“…Moreover, they have reported that during the purification and shortening treatments, the initially long tubes were cut and terminated with carboxylic acid groups (-COOH), which are the starting point for the covalent chemistry of SWNTs. Besides, Sun and his coworkers have proposed several typical schemes to functionalize carbon nanotubes through amidation and esterification of the nanotube-bound carboxylic acids [8][9][10][11], in more detail, soluble nanotubes can be obtained via the chemical attachment of amphiphilic aminopolymers, such as poly (vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol) (PVA-VA) [8], poly(propionylethylenimine-co-ethylenimine) (PPEI-EI) [9], as well as bovine serum albumin (BSA) [11]. Unfortunately, the covalent modification involving chemical reaction more or less impairs the structural and electrical properties of nanotubes [12].…”