Purification and Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes by Classical and Advanced Oxidation Processes

MARIANO ESCOBAR; SILVIA GOYANES; MARÍA A. CORCUERA; A ECEIZA; IÑAKI MONDRAGÓN; GERARDO H. RUBIOLO; ROBERTO CANDAL

Journal for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

American Scientific Publishers

Lugar: Valencia, CA, USA; Año: 2009 vol. 9 p. 6228 - 6233

1533-4880

Advanced oxidation technologies (AOT) were applied for the production of accuratelycontrolled oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Fenton process is effective to getcarboxylic (-COO- or –COOH) and OH groups on the surface of carbon nanotubeswhile Photofenton and UV/H2O2 processes mostly produce OH groups on surface ofmultiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). All of them preserve the structure ofMWCNT allowing to achieve accurately controlled oxidized MWCNT. Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetical analysis (TGA) showthat the acid treatment is the more efficient technique to generate COOH groups onMWCNT surface. However, this chemical technique generates strong damages on theMWCNT structure, as demonstrated by TGA, field emission scanning electronmicroscopy and transmission electron microscopy results.