A supramolecular approach for the facile solubilization and separation of covalently functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes.
Through a combination of an electronic-type selective diazonium-based attachment of a Hamilton receptor unit onto the carbon nanotube framework and a supramolecular recognition approach of a cyanuric acid derivative, we herein introduce a highly promising strategy for the tuning of carbon nanotube solubility and, directly related to that, a solution-based easy and straightforward separation of covalently functionalized carbon nanotube derivatives with respect to their unfunctionalized counterparts. The supramolecular complexation of the cyanuric acid derivative provides the driving force for the dramatically increased dispersibility and for the long-time stability of the individualized single-walled carbon nanotube derivatives in chloroform. The selective covalent functionalization of metallic carbon nanotubes can easily be analyzed with the aid of scanning Raman microscopy techniques. The functional derivatives have furthermore been characterized by UV/Vis-NIR and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometric coupled thermogravimetric analysis. The investigation of the supramolecular complexation is based on an in-depth UV/Vis-NIR analysis and atomic force microscopy investigations.
Institute of Advanced Materials and Processes (ZMP), 90762 Fuerth (Germany), Fax: (+49) 9131-85-26-864; Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen (Germany).
Sebastian
S
Bosch
Lukas
L
Zeininger
Frank
F
Hauke
Andreas
A
Hirsch
D003979:Diazonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D014227:Triazines / Q000737:chemistry*
D003979:Diazonium Compounds; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D014227:Triazines; C004632:cyanuric acid
allotropes; carbon; nanotubes; selectivity; supramolecular chemistry