Effect of the morphology of structured carbon nanomaterials on their oxidizability

The oxidation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs), nanofibers (CNFs), and few-layer graphite fragments (FLGFs) with a nitric acid solution was studied. The oxygen content in the functionalized derivatives was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The results were correlated with the structural features of the nanomaterials revealed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The highest content of carboxyl groups was achieved by functionalization of carbon nanotubes with the conical position of graphene layers.