Aqueous-dispersible fullerol-carbon nanotube hybrids

Fullerol-carbon nanotube hybrids have been fabricated through wet impregnation of oxidized multi-wall carbon nanotubes with fullerols and subsequent solid-state heating at 200 degrees C to promote interfacial bonding. Because fullerols attach to the walls as polyanions providing static repulsion, the hybrid displays high aqueous solubility. The decoration of the nanotubes with fullerols was established by infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, whereas its impact on the surface properties was studied by means of zeta-potential measurements and dynamic light scattering. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.