Phototransformation-Induced Aggregation of Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: The Importance of Amorphous Carbon

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with proper functionalization are desirable for applications that require dispersion in aqueous and biological environments, and functionalized SWCNTs also serve as building blocks for conjugation with specific molecules in these applications. In this study, we examined the phototransformation of carboxylated SWCNTs and associated amorphous carbon impurities in the presence or absence of H2O2 under simulated sunlight conditions. We found that while carboxylated SWCNTs were rather unreactive with respect to direct solar photolysis, they photoreacted in the presence of H2O2, forming CO2 and strongly aggregated SWCNT products that precipitated. Photoreaction caused SWCNTs to lose oxygen-containing functionalities, and interestingly, the resulting photoproducts had spectral characteristics similar to those of parent carboxylated SWCNTs whose amorphous carbon was removed by base washing. These results indicated that photoreaction of the amorphous carbon was likely involv...