Selective oxidation of single-walled carbon nanotubes using carbon dioxide Original Research Article

A simple process for selective removal of carbon from single-walled carbon nanotube samples was developed based on a mild oxidation by carbon dioxide. The reactivity profiles of as prepared and purified nanotube samples were determined using both TG and a related analytical technique, controlled atmosphere programmed temperature oxidation (CAPTO). The complex differential rate curves for weight loss (DTG) or carbon dioxide evolution (CAPTO) could be resolved by a series of Gaussian peaks each associated with carbonaceous species of different reactivity. Comparisons were made between samples as received after preparation by the laser ablation method, after purification by nitric acid oxidation, and both of these after reaction with CO2. The DTG of as prepared tubes had a broad major peak centered about 410 °C. Mild oxidation of as prepared nanotubes under flowing carbon dioxide at 600 °C preferentially removed more reactive carbon species leaving behind a narrower distribution about the major peak in DTG. In contrast to the as prepared material, the sample that had been purified using nitric acid had a more distinct separation of the major DTG peaks between more and less readily oxidized material. Oxidation of this sample with CO2 selectively removed the peak associated with the most readily oxidized material. The original CO2 oxidation experiments performed on the analytical scale were successfully scaled up to a small preparative scale.