A new approach to dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) in common polar solvents was reported. Here, a detailed study of nanotube chemistry by using trifluorophenyl (TFP) to modify the surface of MWNT was discussed, which was not reported before. A characterization of the reaction products using a variety of techniques was provided. The results confirmed that the surface of MWNT was successfully functionalized. Furthermore, trifluorophenyl multiwalled carbon nanotube (TFP-MWNT) was well dispersed in polar solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetic acid (Ac), N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), due to the adsorption of trifluorophenyl groups on the surface of raw MWNT. Following chemical modification, dispersed individual nanotube suggests the potentials for wide applications.
Porphyrin and carbon nanotube assemblies in polar solvents