Carbon nanotubes liquid-phase functionalization

Fluorous chemistry, involving the use of a fluorous label for the functionalization of a substrate and a fluorous solvent for extraction of the functionalized substrate, is shown to be effective in solubilizing gold and CdSe nanoparticles in a fluorous medium, through phase transfer from an aqueous or a hydrocarbon medium. While these nanoparticles were functionalized with a fluorous thiol, single-walled carbon nanotubes and ZnO nanorods could be solubilized in a fluorous medium by reacting them with a fluorous amine. Fluorous chemistry enables the solubilization of the nanostructures in the most nonpolar liquid medium possible. 

Figure 3. (a) Two-dimensional, bond orientational order parameter average values in the molecular fluid layers of LI ecu confined in a multi-walled carbon nanotube of diameter D=9norder parameter values for the contact, second, third and fourth layers, respectively. The dotted line represents the bulk solid-fluid transition temperature, (b) Positional and orientational pair correlation functions in the unwraiqred contact layer of U CCU confined in a multi-walled carbon nanotube of diameter D=9.1< (5 nm) showing liquid phase at 7=262 K and crystal phase at 7=252 K. 

Rodrfguez-Perez L, Teuma E, Falqui A et al (2008) Supported ionic liquid phase catalysis on functionalized carbon nanotubes. Chem Commun 35 4201 203... 

Figure 3.68 Asymmetric functionalization of carbon nanotubes (a) by reaction in a liquid-liquid phase boundary, and (b) by immobilization on a solid substrate.

C. Jiang, A. Saha, C. Xiang, C.C. Young, J.M. Tour, M. Pasquali, A.A. Marti, Increased solubility, liquid-crystalline phase, and selective functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes polyelectrolyte dispersions. ACS Nano 7, 4503 510 (2013)... 

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