Chemical functionalization of inner walls of carbon nanotubes with long-chain aliphatic amines

Abstract

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using porous anodic alumina membrane (PA) as template and the chemical functionalization of their inner walls is presented. The CNT were prepared by catalyst-free process using the pyrolysis of liquid aerosol of toluene: ethanol (1:1 v/v). The surface modification of the inner surface walls of CNT was performed using the gas phase synthesis by aliphatic amines (1,8-diaminooctane, DO). SEM, TEM and XPS analysis confirmed the morphology of prepared CNT inside of PA pores and their successful functionalization by amino groups. The presence and growth of interesting carbon nanoparticle inside CNT was observed during amination process. We hypothesized their origin as nanodiamonds formed as a result of the heat treatment in the presence of air that support etching mechanism and defects formation which acts as a diamond growth sites.