Debundling of carbon single-walled nanotubes at oxidation of bromine ions

Abstract

An electrochemical method of modification of carbon single-walled nanotubes at anodic polarization in aqueous solutions of potassium bromide is proposed. Bundles of nanotubes disperse under superposition of anodic potentials without damage of structure of individual nanotubes as revealed by cyclic voltammetry, electron microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering. On the basis of elemental and thermogravimetric analyses data obtained for the initial and processed samples, the mechanism of nanotube modification is proposed for potassium bromide electrolysis in aqueous solution. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.