Carbon-based materials: From fullerene nanostructures to functionalized carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Self-assembly in morphological organization of various fullerene derivatives affords different supramolecular architectures. Nanospheres, tubules, and bundles of nanorods are formed depending on the nature of the organic group in the fullerene unit. The current work highlights an efficient method to fabricate almost perfect and uniformly shaped nanocrystals in a novel connection between spherical fullerene-based materials and fibrous nanotubes. In a parallel research line, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been functionalized using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. The organically functionalized CNTs, having improved solubility and potential for applications, are characterized by standard analytical methods as well as microscopy techniques.