title: Room-temperature synthesis of soluble carbon nanotubes by the sonication of graphene oxide nanosheets.
abstract: The transformation of two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets into carbon nanotubes was achieved by sonicating GO in 70% nitric acid. Through the use of mass spectrometry to track the evolution of molecular fragments during the acid ultrasonication, it was observed that GO can be readily decomposed into polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The cavitation-induced condensation of these PAHs results in their molecular reconstruction to form folded carbon nanostructures. UV-emitting, water-soluble carbon nanoparticles as well as carbon nanotubes that exhibit magnetic properties were fabricated under catalyst-free conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 3, 117543 Singapore.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lena Ai ling
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qiaoliang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Suzi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Bee Min
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Kian Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Loh