Open AccessOptical Excitation of Carbon Nanotubes Drives Localized Diazonium Reactions
Author(s) -
Lyndsey R. Powell,
Yanmei Piao,
YuHuang Wang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the journal of physical chemistry letters
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.563
H-Index - 203
ISSN - 1948-7185
DOI - 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01771
Subject(s) - nanochemistry , carbon nanotube , covalent bond , nanomaterials , materials science , nanotechnology , surface modification , excitation , carbon fibers , photothermal therapy , selective chemistry of single walled nanotubes , photochemistry , optical properties of carbon nanotubes , chemistry , composite number , organic chemistry , nanotube , engineering , electrical engineering , composite material
Covalent chemistries have been widely used to modify carbon nanomaterials; however, they typically lack the precision and efficiency required to directly engineer their optical and electronic properties. Here, we show, for the first time, that visible light which is tuned into resonance with carbon nanotubes can be used to drive their functionalization by aryldiazonium salts. The optical excitation accelerates the reaction rate 154-fold (±13) and makes it possible to significantly improve the efficiency of covalent bonding to the sp(2) carbon lattice. Control experiments suggest that the reaction is dominated by a localized photothermal effect. This light-driven reaction paves the way for precise nanochemistry that can directly tailor carbon nanomaterials at the optical and electronic levels.