Tuning the work function of surface oxidised multi-wall carbon nanotubes via cation exchange

Treatment of acid oxidised multi-wall carbon nanotubes with the alkali metal hydroxides LiOH, KOH and NaOH is shown to be a facile means of reducing the work function by as much as 0.4 eV via metal cation exchange with protons associated with acidic surface moieties. We report a large reduction in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical physics letters 2007-01, Vol.434 (1), p.92-95
Main Authors: Blanchard, N.P., Hatton, R.A., Silva, S.R.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Treatment of acid oxidised multi-wall carbon nanotubes with the alkali metal hydroxides LiOH, KOH and NaOH is shown to be a facile means of reducing the work function by as much as 0.4 eV via metal cation exchange with protons associated with acidic surface moieties. We report a large reduction in the work function of acid oxidised multi-wall carbon nanotubes upon exchange of protons associated with acidic surface groups with the alkali metal cations Li +, Na + and K + measured using ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy provides compelling evidence for the preferential uptake of Na +, over Li + and K + and yields an estimate of the density of surface bound carboxylic acid moieties onto which functional organic molecules can be chemically attached.
ISSN:0009-2614
1873-4448
DOI:10.1016/j.cplett.2006.11.100