Method of making functionalized nanotubes
AssigneeHyperion Catalysis International, Inc.
InventorsAlan Fisher, Robert Hoch, David Moy, Chunming Niu, Naoya Ogata, Howard Tennent, Thomas McCarthy
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Abstract
Graphitic nanotubes, which includes tubular fullerenes (commonly called “buckytubes”) and fibrils, which are functionalized by chemical substitution or by adsorption of functional moieties. More specifically the invention relates to graphitic nanotubes which are uniformly or non-uniformly substituted with chemical moieties or upon which certain cyclic compounds are adsorbed and to complex structures comprised of such functionalized fibrils linked to one another. The invention also relates to methods of introducing functional groups onto the surface of such fibrils.
Claims12
A method of introducing functional groups onto the surface of carbon nanotubes to form a functionalized nanotube having the formula
- [CnHL[Brketclosest]Am
- wherein the carbon atoms, Cn, are surface carbons of a substantially cylindrical, graphitic nanotube being substantially free of pyrolytically deposited carbon,
- n is an integer, L is a number less than 0.1 n, m is a number less than 0.5 n,
- each of A is selected from
- OY, NHY, C(O)—OY, C(O)—NR′Y, C(O)—SY, C(O)—Y, —CR′2—OY, N=Y, and C=Y,
- Y is an appropriate functional group of a protein, a peptide, an enzyme, an antibody, an oligonucleotide, a nucleotide, an antigen, or an enzyme substrate, enzyme inhibitor or the transition state analog of an enzyme substrate or is selected from
- R′—OH, R′—NH2, R′SH, R′CHO, R′CN, R′X, R′SiR′3, R′-R″, R′—N—CO, (C2H4O[Parenclosest]wH, (—C3H6O[Parenclosest]wH, (—C2H4O)w-R′, (C3H6O)w-R′ and R′,
- R′ is alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or cycloaryl,
- R″ is fluoroalkyl, fluoroaryl, fluorocycloalkyl or fluoroaralkyl,
- X is a halide,
- Z is carboxylate or trifluoroacetate, and
- w is an integer greater than one and less than 200,
- comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the carbon nanotubes with oxidizing agents comprising a solution of an alkali metal chlorate in a strong acid for a period of time sufficient to oxidize the surface of said nanotubes;
- and
- (b) contacting the surface-oxidized carbon nanotubes with reactant such that a functional group is added to the surface of the carbon nanotubes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.