Spectroscopic Evidence of Carbon Nanotubes’ Metallic Character Loss Induced by Covalent Functionalization via Nitric Acid Purification

A detailed characterization of covalently functionalized HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been carried out using several physicochemical methods (thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman scattering). The chemical process, finally leading to SWNT−ester derivatives, starts from nitric acid purification of pristine SWNTs. Besides the efficiency of the functionalization, we show that a loss of metallic character of the carbon nanotubes is initiated by the nitric acid treatment of pristine SWNTs and is maintained in the final SWNT ester derivatives. A higher reactivity of the metallic tubes is also demonstrated.