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Characterizing the surface properties of carbon nanotubes by inverse gas chromatography

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Abstract

Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to characterize the surface properties of pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), as well as the poly(acrylic acid) sidewall covalently functionalized MWNTs (PAA-g-MWNTs) and hydroxyl group directly grafted MWNTs (MWNTols). The dispersive component of the surface energy ( \( \gamma _S^D \)) and the acid/base character of these samples’ surfaces were estimated by the retention time with different non-polar and polar probes at infinite dilution region. The specific free energy (ΔG AB) and the enthalpy (ΔH AB) of adsorption corresponding to acid–base surface interactions were determined. By correlating ΔH AB with the donor and acceptor numbers of the probes, the acidic (K A) and the basic K D parameters of the samples’ were calculated. The results show that chemical modification successfully reduces the dispersive component of the surface energy of MWNTs. Furthermore, MWNTs grafted with hydroxyl groups exhibit a more basic character, while MWNTs grafted with poly(acrylic acid) show a more acidic character. Overall, IGC provides useful complementary information on the changes resulted from the chemical modifications of the surface.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Science Foundation of China (Grant No.20374012), National Science Foundation for Distinguished Yong Scholars of China (5025310) and STCSM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Xiali Zhang, Dong Yang, Peng Xu, Changchun Wang & Qiangguo Du

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  1. Xiali Zhang
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  2. Dong Yang
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  3. Peng Xu
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  4. Changchun Wang
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  5. Qiangguo Du
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Correspondence to Changchun Wang or Qiangguo Du.

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Zhang, X., Yang, D., Xu, P. et al. Characterizing the surface properties of carbon nanotubes by inverse gas chromatography. J Mater Sci 42, 7069–7075 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-007-1536-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-007-1536-7

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