title: Defect/Edge-Selective Functionalization of Carbon Materials by "Direct" Friedel-Crafts Acylation Reaction.
abstract: Popularly utilized oxidation media, via nitric acid/sulfuric acid mixtures, are too corrosive and oxidizing to preserve structural integrity of highly ordered graphitic materials (carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene). Here, for the most commonly used oxidation method, the important advantages of defect/edge-selective functionalization of carbon materials (CNTs/graphene/graphite) in a polyphosphoric acid (PPA)/phosphorous pentoxide (P2O5) medium are elucidated. The optimized PPA/P2O5medium is a mild acid that is not only less corrosive than popularly utilized oxidation media, but also has a strong capability to drive Friedel-Crafts acylation by covalently modifying carbon materials. With a broader spectrum of functional groups accessible, the PPA/P2O5-driven Friedel-Crafts acylation offers more options for tailoring the properties and processing of carbon materials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dimension-Controllable Organic Framework, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Functional Materials Division, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, AFRL/RXAS, US Air Force Research Laboratory, 1864 4th St, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Loon-Seng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Center for Dimension-Controllable Organic Framework, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST, Ulsan, 44919, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Baek
keywords: Friedel-Crafts acylation; carbon nanotubes; defect/edge-selective functionalization; graphene; macromolecules