Publisher's Synopsis
The chemically functionalized nanotube might have mechanical or electrical properties that are different from those of the un-functionalized nanotube and thus might be used as a chemical sensor or a nanometer-scale electronic device. The challenge is to find a way to reproducibly and reliably chemically alter carbon nanotubes that, like graphite, are fairly unreactive. The various methods used to date and the possible application of the resulting functionalized nanotubes is discussed in this book. Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes have attracted the attention of many a scientist around the world. This extraordinary interest stems from their outstanding structural, mechanical, and electronic properties. In fact, apart from being the best and most easily available one-dimensional model system, carbon nanotubes show strong application potential in electronics, scanning probe microscopy, chemical and biological sensing, reinforced composite materials, and in many more areas. While some of the proposed applications remain still a far-off dream, others are close to technical realization. Recent advances in the development of reliable methods for the chemical functionalization of the nanotubes provide an additional impetus towards extending the scope of their application spectrum. In particular, covalent modification schemes allow persistent alteration of the electronic properties of the tubes, as well as to chemically tailor their surface properties, whereby new functions can be implemented that cannot otherwise be acquired by pristine nanotubes. On top of their excellent electrical properties, carbon nanotubes possess high mechanical and chemical stability. While the latter is certainly advantageous from an application point of view, this attribute also imposes a severe hurdle for the development of methods allowing for the selective and controlled covalent functionalization of the nanotubes. This explains why it was only within the past few years that a wider range of reliable functionalization schemes have become available. In this literature, relevant methods for the covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes will be presented, together with some of the resulting applications. Chemical Functionalization of Carbon Nanomaterials delivers an exhaustive examination of carbon nanomaterials, with their variants and how they can be chemically functionalized. This Monograph covers important current research on chemical functionalization of carbon-based nanomaterials and discusses the chemistry of different surface functionalization techniques. Carbon-based nanomaterials are swiftly developing as one of the most interesting materials in the twenty-first century. The chemically functionalized nanotube might have mechanical or electrical properties that are different from those of the un-functionalized nanotube and thus might be used as a chemical sensor or a nanometer-scale electronic device. The challenge is to find a way to reproducibly and reliably chemically alter carbon nanotubes that, like graphite, are fairly unreactive. The various methods used to date and the possible application of the resulting functionalized nanotubes is discussed in this book. Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes have attracted the attention of many a scientist around the world. This extraordinary interest stems from their outstanding structural, mechanical, and electronic properties. In fact, apart from being the best and most easily available one-dimensional model system, carbon nanotubes show strong application potential in electronics, scanning probe microscopy, chemical and biological sensing, reinforced composite materials, and in many more areas. While some of the proposed applications remain still a far-off dream, others are close to technical realization. Recent advances in the development of reliable methods for the chemical functionalization of the nanotubes provide an additional impetus towards extending the scope of their application spectrum. In particular, covalent modification schemes allow persistent alteration of the electronic properties of the tubes, as well as to chemically tailor their surface properties, whereby new functions can be implemented that cannot otherwise be acquired by pristine nanotubes. On top of their excellent electrical properties, carbon nanotubes possess high mechanical and chemical stability. While the latter is certainly advantageous from an application point of view, this attribute also imposes a severe hurdle for the development of methods allowing for the selective and controlled covalent functionalization of the nanotubes. This explains why it was only within the past few years that a wider range of reliable functionalization schemes have become available. In this literature, relevant methods for the covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes will be presented, together with some of the resulting applications. Chemical Functionalization of Carbon Nanomaterials delivers an exhaustive examination of carbon nanomaterials, with their variants and how they can be chemically functionalized. This Monograph covers important current research on chemical functionalization of carbon-based nanomaterials and discusses the chemistry of different surface functionalization techniques. Carbon-based nanomaterials are swiftly developing as one of the most interesting materials in the twenty-first century. The chemically functionalized nanotube might have mechanical or electrical properties that are different from those of the un-functionalized nanotube and thus might be used as a chemical sensor or a nanometer-scale electronic device. The challenge is to find a way to reproducibly and reliably chemically alter carbon nanotubes that, like graphite, are fairly unreactive. The various methods used to date and the possible application of the resulting functionalized nanotubes is discussed in this book. Since their discovery, carbon nanotubes have attracted the attention of many a scientist around the world. This extraordinary interest stems from their outstanding structural, mechanical, and electronic properties. In fact, apart from being the best and most easily available one-dimensional model system, carbon nanotubes show strong application potential in electronics, scanning probe microscopy, chemical and biological sensing, reinforced composite materials, and in many more areas. While some of the proposed applications remain still a far-off dream, others are close to technical realization. Recent advances in the development of reliable methods for the chemical functionalization of the nanotubes provide an additional impetus towards extending the scope of their application spectrum. In particular, covalent modification schemes allow persistent alteration of the electronic properties of the tubes, as well as to chemically tailor their surface properties, whereby new functions can be implemented that cannot otherwise be acquired by pristine nanotubes. On top of their excellent electrical properties, carbon nanotubes possess high mechanical and chemical stability. While the latter is certainly advantageous from an application point of view, this attribute also imposes a severe hurdle for the development of methods allowing for the selective and controlled covalent functionalization of the nanotubes. This explains why it was only within the past few years that a wider range of reliable functionalization schemes have become available. In this literature, relevant methods for the covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes will be presented, together with some of the resulting applications. Chemical Functionalization of Carbon Nanomaterials delivers an exhaustive examination of carbon nanomaterials, with their variants and how they can be chemically functionalized. This Monograph covers important current research on chemical functionalization of carbon-based nanomaterials and discusses the chemistry of different surface functionalization techniques. Carbon-based nanomaterials are swiftly developing as one of the most interesting materials in the twenty-first century.