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Sonication of porphyrin–nanotube composites: a cautionary tale
Author(s) -
Ní Mhuircheartaigh E. M.,
Blau W. J.,
Prato M.,
Giordani S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.200776160
Subject(s) - sonication , porphyrin , carbon nanotube , protonation , solvent , composite number , molecule , tetraphenylporphyrin , nanotube , chloroform , materials science , composite material , nanocomposite , chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , chromatography , engineering , ion
We report the spectroscopic changes of tetraphenylporphyrin carbon nanotube composites in a variety of chlorinated solvents such as chloroform, dichloroethane and dichlorobenzene as a result of sonication. Detailed data analysis suggests that protonation of the porphyrin core nitrogen atoms occurs as a result of sonodegradation of the solvent molecules. Extreme care must be taken when working with carbon nanotube composite solutions in chlorinated solvents, as sonication is always employed to disperse the nanotubes. This finding is of enormous relevance to the materials chemistry community since these solvents are widely used in preparation of carbon nanotube composite solutions. When working with molecules that are capable of acting as a base some amount of protonation is inevitable and this may dramatically change the physicochemical properties of the composite materials. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)