Covalent surface functionalization of carbon nanostructures via [2 + 1] cycloaddition microwave-assisted reactions

The use of [2 + 1] cycloaddition microwave-assisted reaction as an effective and versatile method for the surface covalent functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), graphene nanoplates (GNP) and carbon nanofibers (CNF) was studied through the reaction with 4-(azidomethyl) benzoic acid (4-AMBA). Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) confirm the successful covalent functionalization with the presence of the organic compound. FTIR spectroscopy and X-Ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reaffirm the union between the 4-AMBA and the carbon nanostructures by observing the C–N bond of the formed aziridine ring. Raman spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) reveal the integrity of the graphitic structure after the functionalization process.