Functionalization by Acidic Treatment in the Purification of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)

M. F. Ahmad 2, A. A. M. Mazuki 2, N. M. Yusof 2, R. Yahya 1, S. M. M. Zawawi 1, N. A. Mansor 1, O. Zakaria 2

1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. National Metrology Institute of Malaysia, Lot PT 4803 Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, 43900 Sepang, Malaysia
   

Advanced Materials Research, Vol. 685, pp. 155-158, April 2013

Comparative studies of two multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) from different manufacturers were reported. The purification and functionalization of commercial multiwall carbon nanotubes were investigated.

MWCNTs were treated with boiling concentrated HNO3 under a reflux condenser for 2 hours at 100 °C in order to purify and oxidize the raw material. The oxidized MWCNTs were rinsed with deionized water until stabilization of the filtrate pH. The measurement technique was by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for thermal analysis decomposition products. Meanwhile, the chemical shifted in MWCNTs can be determined by using Raman Spectroscopy.