title: Ambient solid-state mechano-chemical reactions between functionalized carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Carbon nanotubes can be chemically modified by attaching various functionalities to their surfaces, although harsh chemical treatments can lead to their break-up into graphene nanostructures. On the other hand, direct coupling between functionalities bound on individual nanotubes could lead to, as yet unexplored, spontaneous chemical reactions. Here we report an ambient mechano-chemical reaction between two varieties of nanotubes, carrying predominantly carboxyl and hydroxyl functionalities, respectively, facilitated by simple mechanical grinding of the reactants. The purely solid-state reaction between the chemically differentiated nanotube species produces condensation products and unzipping of nanotubes due to local energy release, as confirmed by spectroscopic measurements, thermal analysis and molecular dynamic simulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kabbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Chandra Sekhar
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tiwary
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP 13083-959, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro A S
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Autreto
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP 13083-959, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunetto
authors.affiliation: DST Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Som
authors.affiliation: DST Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Krishnadas
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Sehmus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozden
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Ken P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Hackenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Yongi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP 13083-959, Brazil.
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Galvao
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vajtai
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA [2] Department of Natural Science, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 13-5053 Chouran, Beirut 1102 2801, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ahmad T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kabbani
authors.affiliation: DST Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India.
authors.forename: Thalappil
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA [2] DST Unit of Nanoscience and Thematic Unit of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India [3] Department of Chemistry Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Pulickel M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan