Comparesion of Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes treated by oil olive and nitric acid and their characterization

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have a great potential in wide applications however faces limitation in terms of dispersion feasibility. This work examines the functionalization process of MWCNTs that is treated with various reagents (nitric acid, 65% HNO3 and followed by treatment with hydrogen peroxide, 30% H2O2 as reduction reagent) and (oil olive) via ultrasonication technique and comparison between their results in an attempt to achieve experimental conditions which efficiently functionalize the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) which minimizing nanotube damage. The results were then confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectrum shows the existence of carboxyl group after treatment with (Acidic oxidation and oil olive) and indicates the functionalization of MWCNTs on the outer surface wall. SEM micrographs show the occurrence of surface modification on the MWCNTs structure after each treatment. Finally, a well dispersed of MWCNTs colloidal was successfully obtained with less MWCNTs structure collapsed. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the TerraGreen Academy