H2SO4/HNO3/HCl—Functionalization and its effect on dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aqueous media

Chemical functionalization is a procedure used in materials science to oxidize the surface of materials. Several researchers use this technique to improve carbon nanotubes (CNTs) interaction and dispersion. The present article evaluates the effect of different functionalization methodologies on dispersion of CNTs in aqueous media. Sulfuric, nitric and chloridric acids were used on the first functionalization. For the second procedure tested the addition of chloridric acid was eliminated; and the third functionalization was done using only nitric acid. Experimental results obtained by Raman spectroscopy indicated the maintenance of the structure of CNTs after all oxidations. The presence of other structures was proved by thermogravimetry decomposition and the addition of functional groups was confirmed by transform Fourier infrared spectroscopy. From these experimental results, we conclude that all methodologies used showed a percentage of adsorption of functional groups on the CNTs. However, based on dispersion analysis in aqueous media, it is observed that this adsorption showed more efficiency on the first functionalization method, followed by the second method.