Chemi- vs physisorption in the radical functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes under microwaves

Victor Mamane (1, 2) , Guillaume Mercier (3, 4) , Junidah Abdul Shukor (5) , Jerome Gleize (6) , Aziz Azizan (5) , Yves Fort (1) , Brigitte Vigolo (4)

1 SRSMC - Structure et Réactivité des Systèmes Moléculaires Complexes
2 Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg
3 LEGI - Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels [Grenoble]
4 IJL - Institut Jean Lamour
5 School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering
6 LCP-A2MC - Laboratoire de Chimie et Physique - Approche Multi-échelle des Milieux Complexes

The effect of microwaves on the functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by the diazonium method was studied. The usage of a new approach led to the identification of the strength of the interaction (physical or chemical) between the functional groups and the carbon nanotube surface. Moreover, the nature (chemical formula) of the adsorbed/grafted functional groups was determined. According to thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy, the optimal functionalization level was reached after 5 min of reaction. Prolonged reaction times can lead to undesired reactions such as defunctionalization, solvent addition and polymerization of the grafted functions. The strength (chemi- vs physisorption) of the bonds between the grafted functional groups and the SWNTs is discussed showing the occurrence of physical adsorption as a consequence of defunctionalization after 15 min of reaction under microwaves. Several chemical mechanisms of grafting could be identified, and it was possible to distinguish conditions leading to the desired chemical grafting from those leading to undesired reactions such as physisorption and polymerization.

Domaines: Matériaux

Victor Mamane, Guillaume Mercier, Junidah Abdul Shukor, Jerome Gleize, Aziz Azizan, et al.. Chemi- vs physisorption in the radical functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes under microwaves. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014, 5, pp.537-545. ⟨10.3762/bjnano.5.63⟩. ⟨hal-01289112⟩