Carbon nanotube chemistry

This article is about chemical reactions of carbon nanotubes. For their chemical synthesis, see Synthesis of carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotube chemistry involves chemical reactions, which are used to modify the properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs can be functionalized to attain desired properties that can be used in a wide variety of applications.[1][2][3][4][5] The two main methods of CNT functionalization are covalent and non-covalent modifications.[6]

Because of their hydrophobic nature, CNTs tend to agglomerate hindering their dispersion in solvents or viscous polymer melts. The resulting nanotube bundles or aggregates reduce the mechanical performance of the final composite. The surface of CNTs can be modified to reduce the hydrophobicity and improve interfacial adhesion to a bulk polymer through chemical attachment.

Chart summarizing options for the chemical modification of carbon nanotubes.
Part of a series of articles on
Nanomaterials
Carbon nanotubes
Fullerenes
Other nanoparticles
Nanostructured materials
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