Spectroscopic Studies on Pure and Histidine-Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, and ultraviolet-visible studies were carried out for pure and histidine-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Electron paramagnetic resonance absorption spectral data were found to be the best fit for the Gaussian lineshape. The g-values indicate the presence of magnetic impurities in the samples and the interaction between the localized electrons and delocalized electrons in the nanotubes trapped at defects or magnetic ion sites. The electron spin concentration decreases with increasing concentration of histidine, which implies that the unpaired electrons undergo a reduction process in the histidine-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Fourier transform infrared study confirms the presence of functional groups in pure and histidine-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Ultraviolet-visible study reveals the formation of a charge transfer complex in histidine-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes.