AbstractAttaching chemical functional groups to single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been achieved by chemical methods. Oxidized purified nanotubes have been treated by thionyl chloride in order to convert carboxyl groups into acylchloride groups. We observe by XPS and EDX that not only chlorine atoms but sulphur containing functional groups are covalently bound to the nanotubes. This chemical functionalization also causes significant changes in the electrical and mechanical properties of the nanotubes. The electrical conductivity measured on mats (bucky paper) increases from 500 S/cm in pristine tubes to 2500 S/cm in modified tubes. Similarly, the Young's modulus of bucky paper increases by about 100 %.
