Addition of Carbon Radicals Generated from Organic Peroxides to Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were functionalized via addition of carbon radicals, which were generated by thermal decomposition of diacyl and dibenzoyl peroxides. Reaction products were investigated with TEM, Raman scattering, TGA, UV−Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, and 1 H NMR. In Raman spectra of functionalized SWNT materials one of the radial breathing modes with a maximum at 260 cm - 1 diminished completely. At the same time, the intensity ratio between the G- and D-bands decreased in comparison to that in the spectrum of raw SWNT material. From TGA measurements we conclude that SWNTs were derivatized up to 2.9−6.1 wt. % with functionalizing moieties. The loss of van Hove singularities in UV−Visible spectra of functionalized SWNTs also indicates a covalent modification of SWNTs.