Investigation of effects produced by chemical functionalization in single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes using Raman spectroscopy

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as well as multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were characterized by Raman spectroscopy to observe the changes in their physical and structural properties on functionalization. When SWNTs or MWNTs are chemically treated, the defects are created. The analysis of radial breathing mode (RBM) showed that the diameter of the single wall carbon nanotubes changed after functionalization. In the carboxylated sample, the intensity of the disordered band (D-mode) increased more than in the pristine samples. The increase in the D-band intensity in SWNTs after functionalization can be attributed to carbon atoms excited from sp 2 to sp 3 hybridization. A higher intensity ratio in D-and G-mode (ID/IG) was observed after functionalization with carboxylic group (COOH). The intensity ratio ID/IG increased on acid treatment which was evident from the Raman spectra and their analysis. In case of MWNTs, the intensity of D band became equal to the intensity of G band, which was due to the huge number of defects that had been introduced in the sidewalls. Moreover, it was found in this study that the MWNTs can be much easier chemically functionalized than SWNTs under the same physical conditions.