Skip to main content
construction release_alert
The Scholars Team is working with OIT to resolve some issues with the Scholars search index
cancel
Journal cover image

Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint

Publication ,  Journal Article
Johnson, EP; Aquino de Carvalho, N; Gilbertson, LM; Plata, DL
Published in: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering
October 30, 2023

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a promising material for sensors and composites, where the addition of chemical functional groups enables selective binding or dispersion. Common functionalization processes often require refluxing in nitric acid (HNO3), resulting in poor control while adding safety, cost, and environmental burdens. Using CNTs grown from acetylene, methylacetylene, or vinylacetylene, we examined a vapor-based functionalization technique with hydrochloric acid (HCl), aiming to reduce morphological damage and material and energy consumption. HNO3 enabled increased oxygen addition via liquid versus vapor treatments (1.6-2.2% vs 0.88-1.0%), while HCl preferably added chlorine via vapor treatments (0.05-0.1% vs 0.02-0.03%). Interestingly, liquid HCl treatments yielded 1.2-2.2% oxygen, and for vinylacetylene-derived CNTs, the oxygen addition was greater than a HNO3-treated sample (2.2 ± 1.5 vs 1.6 ± 0.4%), providing important mechanistic insights for the growth of CNTs and subsequent oxygen addition reaction pathways at defect loci. Life cycle impact assessment demonstrated that using HCl reduced global warming potential and ecotoxicity (98 and 92% reductions, respectively) compared to HNO3. Vapor treatments offered additional improvements, primarily via elimination of electric heating required for reflux. These results demonstrate the importance of structure in CNT substitution and the potential for HCl- and vapor-based treatments for soft CNT functionalization with reduced environmental impact.

Duke Scholars

Published In

ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering

DOI

EISSN

2168-0485

Publication Date

October 30, 2023

Volume

11

Issue

43

Start / End Page

15523 / 15532

Related Subject Headings

  • 4004 Chemical engineering
  • 3401 Analytical chemistry
  • 0904 Chemical Engineering
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management
  • 0301 Analytical Chemistry
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Johnson, E. P., Aquino de Carvalho, N., Gilbertson, L. M., & Plata, D. L. (2023). Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 11(43), 15523–15532. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c02560
Johnson, E. P., N. Aquino de Carvalho, L. M. Gilbertson, and D. L. Plata. “Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint.” ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering 11, no. 43 (October 30, 2023): 15523–32. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c02560.
Johnson EP, Aquino de Carvalho N, Gilbertson LM, Plata DL. Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 2023 Oct 30;11(43):15523–32.
Johnson, E. P., et al. “Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint.” ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, vol. 11, no. 43, Oct. 2023, pp. 15523–32. Scopus, doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c02560.
Johnson EP, Aquino de Carvalho N, Gilbertson LM, Plata DL. Acid Treatment in Alkyl-Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes: Soft Functionalization Techniques with Lower Environmental Footprint. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 2023 Oct 30;11(43):15523–15532.
Journal cover image

Published In

ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering

DOI

EISSN

2168-0485

Publication Date

October 30, 2023

Volume

11

Issue

43

Start / End Page

15523 / 15532

Related Subject Headings

  • 4004 Chemical engineering
  • 3401 Analytical chemistry
  • 0904 Chemical Engineering
  • 0502 Environmental Science and Management
  • 0301 Analytical Chemistry