Chemical modification of carbon nanotubes

The current worldwide research on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been facilitated by unique physico-chemical properties and wide opportunities the CNTs offer for the new field of nanotechnology. The recent studies have shown that, for the efficient use of CNT structural properties, particularly in the engineering of multi-functional materials, the CNTs need to be chemically modified by attachment of functional groups for improving the solubility, processing and compatibility with host materials. While responding to the application needs, chemical modification of carbon nanotubes has quickly emerged as a new research frontier, which is fascinating from not only applied but also fundamental standpoint by permitting studies of chemical reactivity in relation to the nanoscale size and shape of confined structures.