Functionalization of carbon nanotubes with a metal-containing molecular complex

Raw and oxidized carbon nanotubes have been reacted with Vaska's complex. It has been found that Ir coordinates to these nanotubes by two distinctive pathways. With raw nanotubes, the process is through a eta(2)-coordination process. With oxidized nanotubes, the reaction occurs by coordination through the increased number of oxygen atoms, forming a hexacoordinate structure around the Ir atom. The reaction process significantly increases oxidized nanotube solubility in dimethylformamide.