A facile preparation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with hydroxyl groups and their high dispersibility in ethanol

The multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with hydroxyl groups were prepared in deoxygenated tetrahydrofuran using sodium zincate as an electrophilic reagent. NaOH solution and Zn powder were mixed to synthesize sodium zincate. The multiwalled carbon nanotubes were covalently modified with hydroxyl groups by the reaction between sodium zincate and multiwalled carbon nanotubes under sonication at room temperature. The product was characterized with FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. The results indicate that the multiwalled carbon nanotubes are readily modified with hydroxyl groups, and their diameter and morphology are well retained. Moreover, the multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified with hydroxyl groups can be highly dispersed in ethanol to form a uniform and stable solution.