Fluorination of carbon nanotubes with xenon difluoride

The reaction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with xenon difluoride has been studied and compared with the results from experiments with elemental fluorine. A low level fluorination of MWCNTs was achieved at ambient temperature under the influence of light. The outer shells of the nanotubes were converted into a fluorine containing coating that did not significantly affect the electrical conductivity. Fluorination with xenon difluoride was found to be partly irreversible, contrary to previous findings.