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Giant cationic polyelectrolytes generated via electrochemical oxidation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Authors :
Hui Huang Tay
Mustafa K. Bayazit
Milo S. P. Shaffer
Stephen A. Hodge
Source :
Nature communications. 4
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

Previously, reduced single-walled carbon nanotube anions have been used for effective processing and functionalization. Here we report individually separate and distinct (that is, discrete) single-walled carbon nanotube cations, directly generated from a pure anode using a non-aqueous electrochemical technique. Cyclic voltammetry provides evidence for the reversibility of this nanoion electrochemisty, and can be related to the complex electronic density of states of the single-walled carbon nanotubes. Fixed potentiostatic oxidation allows spontaneous dissolution of nanotube cations ('nanotubium'); Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy show that sequential fractions are purified, separating amorphous carbon and short, defective single-walled carbon nanotubes, initially. The preparation of nanotubium, in principle, enables a new family of nucleophilic grafting reactions for single-walled carbon nanotubes, exploited here, to assemble nanotubes on amine-modified Si surfaces. Other nanoparticle polyelectrolyte cations may be anticipated.

Details

ISSN :
20411723
Volume :
4
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Nature communications
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....51ea6decb94b7f7a101c7d957c50eef6