Chemical functionalization, characterization, and application of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Due to their unique properties, carbon nanotubes have received considerable attention. In this dissertation, the characterization, chemical functionalization and application of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are discussed.; The purity and extinction coefficient of SWNTs is measured by using solution phase near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The carbonaceous purity of SWNTs produced by the electric arc (EA), laser oven (LO) and HiPco (HC) methods was estimated by measurement of areal absorptivities of the second interband transition of semiconducting nanotube. A number of EA-produced SWNTs samples have been analyzed to estimate an absolute molar extinction coefficient for the carbonaceous impurities in EA-produced SWNT samples. This work is expected to lead to a universal method for the assessment of the absolute bulk purity of SWNTs from all sources.; Chemical functionalization is a useful tool to tailor the properties of SWNTs. Water soluble polymers, including poly(aminobenzene sulphonic acid) [(C6H3SOHNH)n] and polyethylene glycol [HO(CH 2CH2O)nH], were used to functionalize SWNTs via amidation or esterification. The resulting SWNT graft copolymers have high solubility in water. The loading of SWNTs in the SWNT-CONH(C6H 3SO3HNH)n and SWNT-COO(CH2CH2 O)nH graft copolymers was estimated to be 35% and 70%, respectively, by thermogravimetric analysis.; The mineralization of SWNTs with hydroxyappatite is an important step towards the application of SWNTs as artificial bone material. After functionalization with (C6H3SO3HNH)n and phosphonates, sulphonic acid and phosphonate groups were attached to SWNTs. These functional groups enhanced the nucleation and crystallization of hydroxyappatite on SWNTs. This work can be regarded as a significant beginning in the application of SWNTs in the area of artificial bone materials, where the SWNTs have real potential due to their light-weight and high strength.