Preserving π-conjugation in covalently functionalized carbon nanotubes for optoelectronic applications

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 14281
• Main Authors: Setaro, Antonio, Adeli, Mohsen, Glaeske, Mareen, Przyrembel, Daniel, Bisswanger, Timo, Gordeev, Georgy, Maschietto, Federica, Faghani, Abbas, Paulus, Beate, Weinelt, Martin, Arenal, Raul, Haag, Rainer, Reich, Stephanie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 30-01-2017; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 119/118; 140/131; 140/133; 140/146; 639/301/119/995; 639/301/357/73; 639/638/440/94; 639/925/357/551; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14281

Covalent functionalization tailors carbon nanotubes for a wide range of applications in varying environments. Its strength and stability of attachment come at the price of degrading the carbon nanotubes
sp
2
network and destroying the tubes electronic and optoelectronic features. Here we present a non-destructive, covalent, gram-scale functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes by a new [2+1] cycloaddition. The reaction rebuilds the extended
π
-network, thereby retaining the outstanding quantum optoelectronic properties of carbon nanotubes, including bright light emission at high degree of functionalization (1 group per 25 carbon atoms). The conjugation method described here opens the way for advanced tailoring nanotubes as demonstrated for light-triggered reversible doping through photochromic molecular switches and nanoplasmonic gold-nanotube hybrids with enhanced infrared light emission.
While covalent modification of carbon nanotubes allows their use in a wide range of applications, it often results in disruption of their optoelectronic properties. Here, the authors design a cycloaddition reaction that preserves the nanotubes electronic structure.