Preparation and characterization of soluble methyl-β-cyclodextrin functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes

Methyl-β-cyclodextrin and octadecylamine-modified single-walled carbon nanotube composites were prepared using standard techniques. Oxidized single-walled carbon nanotube was acyl halogenated with thionyl chloride and dimethylformamide, then reacted with methyl-β-cyclodextrin and octadecylamine simultaneously to obtain soluble products. The formation of surface functional groups and changes of nanotubes structures of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes were monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes have substantial solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethylformamide.