Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes under dry and wet conditions

This work aims at evaluating the influence of the functionalization conditions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the type and amount of oxygenated groups covalently bonded and on the aspect ratio and crystalline quality of functionalized nanomaterials. For this purpose functionalization of CNTs was carried out under dry and wet conditions. Functionalization under dry conditions was carried out in a tubular reactor with HNO3 vapors flowing across CNTs, while wet conditions consisted in soaking CNTs in HNO3 solution and a mixture of HNO3 and H2SO4.