Preparation and catalytic performance of perfluorosulfonic acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes

Perfluorosulfonic acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes were prepared by liquid deposition of the Received 3 May 2014 perfluorosulfonic acid-polytetrafluoroethylene copolymer and characterized by N-2 adsorption, Accepted 10 June 2014 scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spec-Published 20 November 2014 troscopy, and acid-base titration. The effects of reaction temperature and the type of solvent were investigated. The results showed that these solid acids are very stable in both polar and non-polar solvents and can maintain their acidity up to 300 degrees C. Higher activity and better stability were observed over these materials in the allcylation of hydroquinone compared with poly(styrene sulfonic acid)-grafted carbon nanotubes. (C) 2014, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.