Organic Systems

 

1. Solution phase ozonolysis of carbon nanotubes for (a) purification and removal of metal impurities and amorphous carbon. (b) Sidewall functionalization (1,3-dipolar cycloaddition) of tubes. (c) Evidence that ozonolysis is selective for reaction with smaller-diameter tubes. (d) Rational control of oxygenated group density and distribution on sidewalls. Protocol presented a nondestructive, low-temperature, diameter-selective method for introducing oxygenated moieties onto nanotube sidewalls, with implications for the design of well-dispersed nanotube-based composites. Ozonized tubes are also potential energy storage devices.

Refs.: J. Phys. Chem. B, v.106, 12144 (2002); Nano Lett., v.4, 1445 (2004); J. Mater. Chem. (cover), v.16, 141 (2006); Chem. Phys. Lett., v.442, 354 (2007); and J. Coll. Interf. Sci., v.317, 375 (2008).  

 

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2. Organic derivatization of carbon nanotubes with crown ethers to increase the solubility of carbon nanotubes in wide range of aqueous and organic solvents (up to as much as 1 g/L from a nominal value of 10 mg/L for unprocessed tubes). Noncovalent, nondestructive functionalization technique for controllably modifying and solubilizing virtually any type of nanotube.

Ref.: Nano Lett., v.2, 1215 (2002).