title: Efficient Chemical Modification of Carbon Nanotubes with Metallacarboranes.
abstract: As-produced single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) tend to aggregate in bundles due to π-π interactions. Several approaches are nowadays available to debundle, at least partially, the nanotubes through surface modification by both covalent and noncovalent approaches. Herein, we explore different strategies to afford an efficient covalent functionalization of SWCNTs with cobaltabisdicarbollide anions. Aberration-corrected HRTEM analysis reveals the presence of metallacarboranes along the walls of the SWCNTs. This new family of materials presents an outstanding water dispersibility that facilitates its processability for potential applications.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari de la UAB. 08193, Bellaterra (Spain).
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabana
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari de la UAB. 08193, Bellaterra (Spain).
authors.forename: Arántzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Campo
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp (Belgium).
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopy for Materials Research (EMAT), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp (Belgium).
authors.forename: Gustaaf
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Tendeloo
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari de la UAB. 08193, Bellaterra (Spain). rosario@icmab.es.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus Universitari de la UAB. 08193, Bellaterra (Spain). gerard.tobias@icmab.es.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tobias
keywords: HRTEM; boron hybrids; carbon nanotubes; carboranes; metallacarboranes