The fluorination of single wall carbon nanotubes using microwave plasma

We have functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes using a CF₄ microwave discharge and characterized the samples through in situ FTIR spectroscopy, UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, FT-Raman spectroscopy, SEM and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A high degree of functionalization is achieved in a very short time frame, demonstrating that a microwave plasma scheme is an efficient technique for surface modification of carbon nanotubes. The analysis indicates a fractional surface coverage of 2/3 with fluorination.