A high resolution XPS study of sidewall functionalized MWCNTs by fluorination

Carbon nanotubes must be modified to magnify their application. Understanding the chemistry of carbon nanotubes is a crucial step towards their ultimate practical use. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fluorinated at several different conditions. The change in the atomic structures of fluorinated MWCNTs was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). All core level spectra of MWCNTs were deconvoluted to several Pseudo-Voigt functions (sum of Gaussian-Lorentzian functions). The amount of doped fluorine increased with increasing doping fluorine partial pressure, and the fluorine atoms were covalently attached to the side-wall of the MWCNTs. However, the increasing rate of F1s component ratio became dull at 70%, as compared with ratios below 70%. This suggests that fluorine contents during the fluorination of carbon materials can be managed by controlling the fluorine mixing ratio. (c) 2009 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.