Potentiometric titration as a straightforward method to assess the number of functional groups on shortened carbon nanotubes

The conditions for oxidizing multi-walled carbon nanotubes to shorten them to a narrow length distribution have been optimized. One of the most difficult achievements is to fully characterize this material from a chemical point of view, and to find a good quantitative correlation among different tec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carbon (New York) 2010-08, Vol.48 (9), p.2447-2454
Main Authors: Samorì, Cristian, Sainz, Raquel, Ménard-Moyon, Cécilia, Toma, Francesca M., Venturelli, Enrica, Singh, Prabhpreet, Ballestri, Marco, Prato, Maurizio, Bianco, Alberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Assessments
Carbon
Carbon nanotubes
Chemical Sciences
Colorimetry
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Exact sciences and technology
Fullerenes and related materials
diamonds, graphite
Functional groups
Materials science
Multi wall carbon nanotubes
Nondestructive testing
Organic chemistry
Physics
Specific materials
Titration
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Summary:The conditions for oxidizing multi-walled carbon nanotubes to shorten them to a narrow length distribution have been optimized. One of the most difficult achievements is to fully characterize this material from a chemical point of view, and to find a good quantitative correlation among different techniques. Herein, we report on the combination of different methods to determine the number of functional groups generated during strong acid treatment and a further amidation reaction. A good correlation was found using the colorimetric Kaiser test, thermogravimetric analysis and potentiometric argentometric titration. The final technique, used for the first time in this field, is highly versatile and, being non-destructive, allows a complete recovery of the starting material. Short carbon nanotubes are particularly useful for applications in biomedicine, and the control and precise assessment of their functionalization is critical when used as carriers for therapeutic molecules.
ISSN:0008-6223
1873-3891
DOI:10.1016/j.carbon.2010.03.015