Surface Chemical Modification of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes by a Wet-Mechanochemical Reaction

Abstract

A wet-mechanochemical reaction for surface modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been developed. In the treatment, CNTs reacted with potassium hydroxide in alcohol solvent at room temperature under mechanical milling. The results from Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that the nonreactive surfaces of CNTs have been modified successfully by multiple hydroxyl groups. Functionalized carbon nanotubes exhibit higher zeta potential values indicating their high dispersibility in polar solvents. XRD studies corroborate that the surface functionalization does not affect the basic crystal domain size of CNTs. TEM observations reveal that CNTs have been cut into shorter ones by the milling. Shortened CNTs with functionalized surfaces show good dispersion properties.