Thermodynamics of the Solvation of Carbon Nanotubes: Exchange of Aniline to Primary Alcohols on the Surface of Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Although single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) solubilized in aniline have gained increased attention in the last few years, the aniline–SWCNT interaction itself has not been detailed yet. In this work, the adsorption properties of aniline on the surface of SWCNTs were investigated in alcoholic solutions by photoluminescence methods. The Gibbs free energy associated to the adsorption process indicates physisorption as the most pronounced role in the solvation mechanism. Furthermore, the presence of alcohol molecules also has an effect on the solvation process by changing the strength of the aniline-aniline interaction as a result of the changed dielectric background after the aniline solutions were diluted by alcohols.

Keywords:

• Exchange reaction
• solubilization
• SWCNT

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Péter Ács (University of Pécs, Department of Inorganic Chemistry) to prepare the aniline–SWCNT stock solution. The financial support of the Austrian-Hungarian Action Foundation (AKTION Österreich-Ungarn Wissenschafts- und Erziehungskooperation, (72öu1)) and the Austrian-Hungarian Intergovernmental S&T Programme (AT-23/08) are highly appreciated.