NEXAFS study of multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalization with sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) chains

Functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) surface by sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) SPEEK chains using a direct attachment reaction was investigated. A two step method was performed. MWNTs were oxidized by a nitric acid treatment to generate carboxyl groups on their surface. The grafting reaction of sulfonated groups of SPEEK with carboxyl groups present on the surface of oxidized MWNTs readily proceeds by using hexane diamine as an interlinking molecule. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that tubes are wrapped by polymer chains. Near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) at the C K-edge, 0 K-edge, and N K-edge and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to give evidence of covalent functionalization of MWNTs by SPEEK macromolecules.