Process for Derivatizing Carbon Nanotubes with Diazonium Species

Assignee William Marsh Rice University (Houston, TX) 

Single-walled carbon nanotubes, SWNT, having a diameter of 0.7 nm were electro-chemically derivatized on the sides and ends with diazonium tetrafluoroborate derivatives. In this process the estimated degree of functionality was about 1 out of every 20 to 30 carbons in the nanotube. These chemically modified nanotubes have applications in polymer composite materials, molecular electronic applications, and sensor devices. 

4-Tetradecylaniline (1 eq) was dissolved in a 1 1 mixture of acetonitrile and CH2CI2 and then added to tetrafluoroborate (1.2 eq) at —30°C. Stirring was continued for 30 minutes, and the cooling bath was removed. After stirring for an additional 30 minutes, the solution was diluted with two times its volume with diethyl ether product. The precipitated that formed was filtered and isolated in 69% yield, MP = 82°C. 

TABLE 1. Summary of diazonium tetrafluoroborate derivatives prepared according to the Step 1 procedure. 

Stoddart [1] noncovalently wrapped nanotubes with poly (5-alkoxy-m-phenylenevinylene)-co-[(2,5-dioctyloxy-p-phenylene)vinylene], (I), as a method of increasing the solubility of nanotubes in selected solvents. 

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Title Process for Derivatizing Carbon Nanotubes with Diazonium Species... 

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