Nano Express
Preparation and surface functionalization of MWCNTs: study of the composite materials produced by the interaction with an iron phthalocyanine complex
1 Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Técnica, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo Senda del Rey no. 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
2 Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Regent Walk, Aberdeen, UK
Nanoscale Research Letters 2011, 6:353 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-6-353
Published: 20 April 2011Abstract
Carbon nanotubes [CNTs] were synthesized by the catalytic vapor decomposition method. Thereafter, they were functionalized in order to incorporate the oxygen groups (OCNT) and subsequently the amine groups (ACNT). All three CNTs (the as-synthesized and functionalized) underwent reaction with an iron organometallic complex (FePcS), iron(III) phthalocyanine-4,4",4",4""-tetrasulfonic acid, in order to study the nature of the interaction between this complex and the CNTs and the potential formation of nanocomposite materials. Transmission electronic microscopy, N2 adsorption at 77 K, thermogravimetric analysis, temperature-programmed desorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were the characterization techniques employed to confirm the successful functionalization of CNTs as well as the type of interaction existing with the FePcS. All results obtained led to the same conclusion: There were no specific chemical interactions between CNTs and the fixed FePcS.
