Functionalization of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes via Direct Friedel-crafts Acylation in an Optimized PPA/P2O5Medium

Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) was conducted by using direct Friedel-Craft acylation in an optimized PPA/P2O5 medium. For comparison purposes, MWCNTs were treated with a 3:1(v/v) mixture of concentrated H2SO4/HNO3. The changes in surface properties of MWCNTs were investigated using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Also, the time required for CNTs sedimentation in a polar solvent was used for validation of functionalization reactions. The results shows that in the Friedel-Craft modification, MWCNTs were functionalized effectively and without damaging the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) surface compared to acid oxidation method. It is found that grafting BTC molecules onto the surface of MWCNTs improved the dispersion and compatibility of carbon nanotubes in organic medium.