title: Functionalization of carbon nanotubes: manufacturing techniques and properties of customized nanocomponents for molecular-level technology.
abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) since their discovery have been the focus of research on account of exceptional chemical, mechanical and electrical properties. However, manipulation and processing of CNTs have been limited by their compatibility with other materials. Considerable efforts have therefore been devoted to the surface modification of CNTs to pave the way to many useful applications and to realize the potential applications in successful products, especially composite manufacturing. The chemical modification, dispersion and solubilization of CNTs represent an emerging area in the research on nanotubes-based materials. Several research groups have reported successful and doable functionalization techniques for single-walled (SWCNT) and multi-wall (MWCNT) carbon nanotubes. This paper presents an overview of the functionalization of the carbon nanotubes covering both covalent and non-covalent techniques at tips and walls of SWCNTs and MWCNTs, and summarizes recent patents possessing significant commercial value and large-scale practicality. The principal aim is to review main approaches to chemical functionalization of CNTs and to account for the advances that have been made so far.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Matériaux Polymères et des Biomatériaux, UMR CNRS No. 5223-Ingénierie Matériaux Polymères, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, Bât. ISTIL. 43 Bd. du 11 Novembre 1918, Villeurbanne Cedex, France. sohaib.akbar@bvra.etu.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: Sohaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.forename: Aqeel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Taimoor
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers; D036103:Nanotechnology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon