The effect of different order of purification treatments on the purity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The multiwalled carbon nanotubes were purified with different order treatments of gas phase and liquid phase. Amorphous carbon and iron catalysts were removed and some oxygen-containing groups were attached to the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes after purification. The multiwalled carbon nanotubes were determined and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Boehm's neutralizing titration method and weighing method. The morphology of multiwalled carbon nanotubes was verified using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated amorphous carbon and iron catalysts were removed completely while the structure of multiwalled carbon nanotubes was slightly destructed by two treatment methods. Three principal oxygen-containing groups on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were carboxyl, lactone and phenolic hydroxyl in descending order of their concentrations. The method I including gas phase treatment firstly and then liquid phase treatment, is more effective to purify multiwalled carbon nanotubes and to protect the structure of multiwalled carbon nanotubes than method II including liquid phase treatment firstly and then gas phase treatment. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.