An easy approach to hydroxyethylated SWNTs and the high thermal stability of the innergrafted hydroxyethyl groups

Abstract

A new approach to hydroxyethylated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is reported.Treating SWNTs with sec-butyllithium and subsequently with epoxy ethane leads toSWNTs functionalized with both butyl and hydroxyethyl groups. The functionalizedSWNTs were characterized by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis(TGA) and atomic force microscopy. The degree of hydroxylation was estimated to be atleast one hydroxyl group for every 31 nanotube carbon atoms from the TGA dataand the resultant SWNTs can be stably dispersed in water at a concentration of0.5 mg ml−1. It was also found that the functional groups encapsulated in the channels of SWNTspossess a high thermal stability during the TGA procedure.