Surface modification and functionalization of carbon nanotube with some organic compounds

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) with the purity >90% was purchased by Showa Denko K K (Japan). Dodecylamine (DDA), 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3-APTES), dimethylformide (DMF), thionyl dichloride (SOCl₂), nitric acid (HNO₃ 65%), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄ 98%) were supplied by Merck Company (Germany). All chemical reagents are analytical grade and were used as received.

2.2.1. Attachment of COOH group onto the surface of MWCNTs.

The procedures for modification of MWCNTs with COOH group are done according to [10]. Figure 1 shows the scheme for modification of MWCNTs with COOH group.

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0.5 g of MWCNTs was immersed in 80 ml mixture of H₂SO₄/HNO₃ (3:1, v/v) at 70 °C for different times under continuous sonication. The black solid obtained after filtration was washed several times with distilled water, and dried at 80 °C in vacuum for 8 h. The resulting COOH modified MWCNTs (MWCNTs–COOH) were used for further modification.

2.2.2. Attachment of amine group onto the surface of MWCNTs.

Figure 2 shows the scheme of MWCNTs modification with DDA [11, 12].

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Firstly, 0.5 g MWCNTs–COOH and 3 g DDA were mixed at 70 °C for 0.5 h under continuous sonication. Then, many drops of H₂SO₄ as catalyst were poured into the mixture and the reaction took place for a further 5 h. After that, MWCNTs modified with DDA (MWCNTs–DDA) were filtered and washed several times with distilled water. Finally, MWCNTs–DDA was dried at 80 °C in vacuum for 8 h.

2.2.3. Attachment of silane group onto the surface of MWCNTs.

Figure 3 shows the scheme of MWCNTs modification with 3-APTES [13].

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MWCNTs–COOH is reacted with excess SOCl₂ for 12 h under reflux to convert the carboxylic acids into acyl chlorides. Then, the residual SOCl₂ is removed through reduced pressure distillation using a rotary evaporator. The as-prepared MWCNTs–COCl is dispersed in DMF and then sonicated for 0.5 h to create a homogeneous suspension. Subsequently, an excess portion of 3-APTES is added into the mixture. Then, the mixture is placed in a constant temperature oil bath at 80 °C for 12 h with vigorous stirring under the protection of argon. After the return of the reaction mixture to the ambient temperature, the resulting reaction medium is filtrated through a 0.22 μm PTFE membrane and washed with enough DMF. Finally, MWCNTs–3-APTES was dried at 80 °C in vacuum for 8 h.

The FTIR and Raman spectra of the samples were recorded on the FTIR Impact − 410 and Renishaw Invia instruments, respectively. The TEM images were taken by a TEM-1010, JEOL. The DSC/TGA thermograms were recorded on the DSC/TGA, Labsys-instrument. The heating rate was 5 °C min⁻¹ in nitrogen atmosphere.

Figure 4 shows the FTIR spectra of pristine MWCNTs and MWCNTs–COOH by different reaction times. Because of its nature, MWCNTs show very weak peaks of ${\rm C}=\!\!\!={\rm C}$ aromatic ring stretching at the wavenumber of around 1600 cm⁻¹. After treatment with acid mixture H₂SO₄/HNO₃, a strong peak appears at wavenumber of 3400–3500 cm⁻¹. This peak is assigned to the vibration of ${\rm O}-\!\!\!-{\rm H}$ group. Besides, a new other peak at 1000–1200 cm⁻¹ also appears by the MWCNTs–COOH. This peak is assigned to ${\rm C}=\!\!\!={\rm O}$ bonding. This result clearly indicates that the COOH group is successfully attached onto the surface of MWCNTs.

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Figure 5 show the Raman spectra of pristine MWCNTs and MWCNTs–COOH with different reaction times. The Raman spectra of pristine MWCNTs show two characteristic peaks. One at the Raman shift of 1352 cm⁻¹ named D-band is assigned to the disordered graphitic structure of MWCNTs. The other peak at the Raman shift of 1585 cm⁻¹ named G-band is assigned to the ${\rm C}=\!\!\!={\rm C}$ bond in the graphitic plane. Thus, the intensity ratio of D-band to G-band (I_D/I_G) can be used for evaluation of graphitic structure of CNTs. From the Raman spectra, I_D/I_G ratio of pristine MWCNTs and MWCNTs–COOH by the reaction time of 2 and 6 h is 0.58, 0.66 and 0.87, respectively. The explanation for the increasing I_D/I_G ratio with increasing reaction time is that by the attachment of COOH group onto the surface of MWCNTs it is expected that the graphitic structure of MWCNTs is destroyed. That means that the intensity of D-band increases while the intensity of G-band decreases. The longer the reaction time is, the more the graphitic structure is destroyed. In other words, the intensity ratio of D-band to G-band (I_D/I_G) increases with increasing reaction time.

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Figure 6 shows the TEM images of pristine MWCNTs and MWCNTs–COOH samples. It is clear that the pristine MWCNTs have a diameter from 8 to 18.2 nm. After attachment of COOH group onto the surface of MWCNTs, the diameter of MWCNTs–COOH slightly increases up to 22.2 nm. This result reconfirms the successful attachment of COOH group onto the surface of MWCNTs.

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For the quantitative determination of the COOH group at the surface of MWCNTs, DSC/TGA measurements were performed. Figure 7 shows the DSC/TGA thermograms of pristine MWCNTs and MWCNTs–COOH at different reaction times.

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By the TGA thermogram of pristine MWCNTs, a slight weight loss at 100 °C could be observed. This weight loss is assigned to weight loss of moisture absorbed in MWCNTs. By DSC thermogram of pristine MWCNTs, there is evidence for a reaction taken during the measurements. In contrast, several weight loss steps are found by TGA thermogram of MWCNTs–COOH samples. The weight loss around 100 °C is also from the moisture absorbed in the sample. The weight loss from 250 to 600 °C is assigned to the weight loss of COOH group attached onto the surface of MWCNTs. By the reaction time of 2 h, the weight loss of COOH group is about 3.18% and by the reaction time of 6 h it increases to 8.39%. According to [12], the weight loss in the temperature range from 600 to 800 °C by MWCNTs–COOH sample corresponds to the oxidation of CNTs due to the decomposition of COOH group releasing oxygen into the chamber of DSC/TGA system. In addition, there are exothermic peaks at 353.9 °C by DSC thermograms for MWCNTs–COOH samples.

The attachment of COOH group onto the surface of MWCNTs has a strong effect on the solubility of MWCNTs in aqueous medium. Figure 8 shows photographs of MWCNTs before and after attachment with COOH in aqueous solution and the same solution after storage in 72 h.

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The dispersion of MWCNTs in aqueous solution is conducted by sonication. In the case of pristine MWCNTs, shortly after finishing the sonication, the accumulation of MWCNTs happens. In contrast, the aqueous solution with MWCNTs–COOH is stable during the store in 72 h.

Figure 9 shows the FT-IR spectra of MWCNTs with amine and silane groups on the surface.

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By the FTIR spectrum of MWCNTs–DDA, the sharp peak at wavenumber of 3356 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the characteristic ${\rm N}-\!\!\!-{\rm H}$ bonding in the CONH group. Especially, the very strong peaks at 2950 and 2879 cm⁻¹ from the C–H bonding indicate that the long carbon hydro chain (CH₂)₁₁ of dodecylamine has been attached onto the surface of MWCNTs. This result indicates that DDA was successfully attached onto the surface of MWCNTs.

By the FTIR spectrum of MWCNTs–3APTES, the peaks at wavenumber of 1073 and 805 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the characteristic ${\rm Si}=\!\!\!={\rm O}$ and ${\rm Si}=\!\!\!={\rm OH}$ bonding, respectively. The peak at 3450 cm⁻¹ is from OH group, 1165 cm⁻¹ from the out-of-plane vibration of ${\rm C}=\!\!\!={\rm O}$ bonding and the peaks at 2955, 2882 cm⁻¹ from C–H bonding. This result confirms the attachment of 3APTES onto the surface of MWCNTs.

For the quantitative determination of the attachments of DDA and 3APTES onto the surface of MWCNTs, figure 10 shows the DSC/TGA thermograms of MWCNTs–DDA and MWCNTs–3APTES.

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For MWCNTs–DDA, a strong weight loss of about 34.8% in the temperature range from 200 to 600 °C is observed. This weight loss is due to the decomposition of DDA. Similarly, a strong weight loss of about 19.7% in the temperature range from 200 to 600 °C is also observed by TGA thermograms of MWCNTs–3APTES. This weight loss is from the decomposition of 3APTES. The decomposition of DDA as well as of 3APTES is accompanied by an endothermic peak in this temperature range observed by DSC thermograms.