Ambient solid-state mechano-chemical reactions between functionalized carbon nanotubes

Author(s):Show less -

Kabbani, Mohamad A. ^[1] ; Tiwary, Chandra Sekhar ^[1] ; Autreto, Pedro A. S. ^[2] ; Brunetto, Gustavo ^[2] ; Som, Anirban ^{[3, 4]} ; Krishnadas, K. R. ^{[3, 4]} ; Ozden, Sehmus ^[1] ; Hackenberg, Ken P. ^[1] ; Gong, Yongi ^[5] ; Galvao, Douglas S. ^[2] ; Vajtai, Robert ^[1] ; Kabbani, Ahmad T. ^{[1, 6]} ; Pradeep, Thalappil ^{[3, 4]} ; Ajayan, Pulickel M. ^{[5, 3, 4, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Rice Univ, Dept Mat Sci & NanoEngn, Houston, TX 77005 - USA

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Appl Phys, BR-13083959 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Indian Inst Technol, Dept Chem, DST Unit Nanosci, Madras 600036, Tamil Nadu - India

^[4] Indian Inst Technol, Dept Chem, Themat Unit Excellence, Madras 600036, Tamil Nadu - India

^[5] Rice Univ, Dept Chem, Houston, TX 77005 - USA

^[6] Lebanese Amer Univ, Dept Nat Sci, Beirut 11022801 - Lebanon

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS; v. 6, JUN 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 21

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes can be chemically modified by attaching various functionalities to their surfaces, although harsh chemical treatments can lead to their break-up into graphene nanostructures. On the other hand, direct coupling between functionalities bound on individual nanotubes could lead to, as yet unexplored, spontaneous chemical reactions. Here we report an ambient mechano-chemical reaction between two varieties of nanotubes, carrying predominantly carboxyl and hydroxyl functionalities, respectively, facilitated by simple mechanical grinding of the reactants. The purely solid-state reaction between the chemically differentiated nanotube species produces condensation products and unzipping of nanotubes due to local energy release, as confirmed by spectroscopic measurements, thermal analysis and molecular dynamic simulations. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08293-7 - CCES - Center for Computational Engineering and Sciences
• Grantee: Munir Salomao Skaf
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC