Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been integrated into devices for a number of applications ranging from sensors to hydrogen storage and the attachment chemistry by which they are incorporated has been an intensely studied topic. Carbon nanotubes are typically anchored onto these substrates through additional functional groups, such as carboxylic acids, that are present on the CNT edge or defect sites. In this work, it was found that these extra functional groups on the CNTs are not the only way through which CNTs can bind covalently to a substrate; in fact, the presence of functional groups is not necessary at all for covalent attachment to the surface to occur. Carbon nanotubes containing no additional functional groups were attached to amine-modified gold and silicon substrates. Microscopy techniques were used to confirm the presence of CNTs on the surface and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry were used to investigate the chemistry involved. Through comparison to multiple controls, including carboxylic acid-modified CNTs, it was determined that covalent attachment can occur directly through the cage of the CNT. Density functional theory computational methods were used to confirm the feasibility of this process.

Functional groups on carbon nanotubes are not necessary for their covalent attachment to surfaces

254th National Meeting (2017)

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