Title: Chemical modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes using different oxidising agents: optimisation and characterisation

Authors: Sulaiman N. Basahel, Shaeel A. Al Thabaiti, Abdullah Y. Obaid, Mohamed Mokhtar, Mohamed Abdel Salam

Addresses: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200-Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200-Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200-Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200-Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ' Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200-Jeddah 21589, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Chemical modification of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via oxidation was investigated. MWCNTs were oxidised using different oxidising agents, namely nitric acid/sulphuric acid, acidified potassium permanganate, and hydrogen peroxide. The selection of suitable oxidising agent was optimised depending on the integrity of the CNTs. The oxidised MWCNTs were able to suspend in water; with high stability, for a long period of time. FT-IR measurements showed the presence of carboxylic acid function groups especially for the MWCNTs oxidised with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The texture analysis (specific surface area and pore size distribution) showed that oxidation of the MWCNTs led to a decrease in the specific surface area and as a result of introducing a new function groups at the MWCNTs surface which led to the collapse of the total pore volume. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the pristine MWCNTs are highly tangled tubes with diameters of 80-150 nm.

Keywords: multi-walled carbon nanotubes; MWCNTs; CNT; oxidation; FT-IR; scanning electron microscope; SEM; pore size distribution; chemical modification; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2009.028753

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.200-208

Published online: 30 Sep 2009 *

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