STM INVESTIGATION OF CARBON NANOTUBES CONNECTED BY FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
JournalName :
Mat.Sci. Eng. C
PubDateYear :
2003
PubDateOther :
Volume :
23
Issue :
StartPage :
1007
EndPage :
1011
Keywords :
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS;CONNECTED;STM
Notes :
Abstract :
Chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is essential for many applications. Attachment of functional groups to nanotubes
can dramatically increase the solubility of the nanotube material. Sidewall functional groups should react with polymers and improve the
mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Tubes interconnected by chemical bonds will have a reduced contact resistance and can be used for
interconnection purposes in nanoscale circuits. Carbon nanotubes covered with functional groups attached to their exterior wall were
analyzed using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and TEM. The functionalization was carried out in three steps: acid treatment in
H2SO4/HNO3 (3:1) mixture, reaction with SOCl2 and reaction with diaminopropanol (DAP). The binding force between the nanotubes
connected by functional groups and the mechanical stability of the connection was investigated.
