Electrochemical nitration of single-wall carbon nanotubes

Electrochemical nitration of self-assembled single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) sheets with -NO2 groups is reported. A SWNT sheet, used as the working electrode in 6 M aqueous solution of potassium nitrite, was anodically oxidized to form -NO2 groups on the SWNTs. Attenuated-total-reflection Fourier-transform infrared and micro-Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of chemisorbed -NO2 groups consistent with transmission electron microscope images of the nanotube bundles after functionalization. Approximately 13% weight loss attributed to C-NO2 bond breaking was measured by thermogravimetry, corresponding to an endothermic dissociation process measured by differential thermal analysis with an onset temperature near 425 degrees C. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.