Article Title

Radical addition of perfluorinated alkyl iodides to multi-layered graphene and single-walled carbon nanotubes

Authors

Christopher E. Hamilton, Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
Jay R. Lomeda, Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
Zhengzong Sun, Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
James M. Tour, Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
Andrew R. Barron, Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA

Keywords

Nanotube, single-walled carbon nanotube, graphene, radical addition

Abstract

A simple one-pot reaction that serves to functionalize graphite nanosheets (graphene) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with perfluorinated alkyl groups is reported. Free radical addition of 1-iodo-1H,1H,2H, 2H-perfluorododecane to ortho-dichlorobenzene suspensions of the carbon nanomaterial is initiated by thermal decomposition of benzoyl peroxide. Similarly, UV photolysis of 1-iodo-perfluorodecane serves to functionalize the carbon materials. Perfluorododecyl-SWNTs, perfluorododecyl-graphene, and perfluorodecyl-graphene are characterized by infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The products show enhanced dispersability in CHCl3 as compared to unfunctionalized starting materials. The advantage of this one-pot functionalization procedure lies in the use of pristine graphite as starting material thereby avoiding the use of harsh oxidizing conditions.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-010-1007-3

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Christopher E. Hamilton,Jay R. Lomeda,Zhengzong Sun,James M. Tour,Andrew R. Barron, Radical addition of perfluorinated alkyl iodides to multi-layered graphene and single-walled carbon nanotubes. NanoRes.2010, 3: 138–145