Abstract
Dispersing carbon nanomaterials with the aid of sonication has become a widely used procedure for generating homogenous solutions. A systematic study was performed to evaluate the effects of a practical sample preparation procedure that involves mild sonication with/without low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is ubiquitously present in surface water and involved in advanced oxidation processes. Significant oxidation was observed for fullerene in the liquid phase, whereas an appreciable amount of hydrogen was covalently attached to the carbon cage of solid fullerene. Under the same conditions, only the removal of oxidized amorphous carbon was detected for carbon nanotubes. The presence of a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide during sonication exacerbated the effects. The changes in physicochemical properties were characterized quantitatively using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and elemental chemical analysis and qualitatively using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Our results highlight the effects that can occur during sample preparation step and the potential for misinterpreting the toxicity, reactivity and environmental fate of carbon nanomaterials.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
