Probing the Reversibility of Sidewall Functionalization Using Carbon Nanotube Transistors

Abstract

We present a new approach to probe covalent chemical reactions onto single-wall carbon nanotubes using a combination of conductance measurements of nanotube field-effect transistors and Raman spectroscopy. Statistical data taken for the iodophenyl diazonium reaction are presented for several cycles of reaction and annealing at 500 °C. The study reveals a partial reversibility of the reaction, faster reaction rates for the metallic species, and an accumulation of defects onto the SWNT sidewall.