Abstract
Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were functionalized using the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of an azomethine ylide under solvent-free conditions, a one-pot procedure that yields pyrrolidine type of groups at the nanotubes surface. The functionalized SWCNT were further decorated with Ag and Cu nanoparticles by reduction of the corresponding metal salts in dimethylformamide. The extensive reduction of silver from its nitrate was observed, as well as the partial reduction of copper from its acetate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the functionalization of SWCNT with pyrrolidine that provided anchoring sites for the metal nanoparticles. Metal nanoparticles (NP) were formed at the surface of the organically functionalized SWCNT in higher yields as compared to the same procedure carried out with pristine SWCNT. This was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantified by XPS. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that functionalization and metal decoration of the SWCNT did not induce structural damage to the SWCNT.
Highlights
Outstanding properties have been attributed to single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11] since their discovery by Iijima [12]
In the present study we report the organic functionalization of SWCNT using the solvent-free 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide, adapted from the multi wall CNT (MWCNT) functionalization method proposed by Paiva et al [29]
A higher yield of Ag NP was observed for the fSWCNT compared to the pristine SWCNT, indicating that the functionalization plays a role in the formation and stabilization of Ag NP at the SWCNT surface
Summary
Outstanding properties have been attributed to single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11] since their discovery by Iijima [12]. In spite of the excellent properties of SWCNT, their effective transfer to the final application is hindered by the presence of SWCNT bundles, structural defects, and conductivity variation with nanotube chirality, etc Their contact resistance with metals poses a potential problem to device performance, and this has been the focus of several studies [47,48]. The modification of the inter-nanotube bundles by metal nanoparticle decoration to produce hybrid networks has shown potential for the reduction of contact resistance between the nanotubes [49], which is interesting for the above-mentioned applications. Another potential application for hybrid SWCNT/metal NP is the preparation of substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) [50,51]. The functionalized and hybrid materials were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, demonstrating the effectiveness of this simple methodology to synthetize h-SWCNT
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
