Functionalization and solubilization of inorganic nanostructures and carbon nanotubes by employing organosilicon and organotin reagents

Covalent functionalization of nanowires of TiO2, ZnO and Al2O3 has been carried out by employing the organosilicon reagents aminopropyltriethoxysilane and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS). The presence of the organosilane coating was confirmed by electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) and IR spectroscopy. HDTMS-coated oxide nanowires give stable dispersions in CCl4 and toluene. Nanoparticles of these metal oxides as well as of CeO2 and Fe3O4 could be solubilized in non-polar solvents by functionalizing with HDTMS. Nanotubes and nanoparticles of BN could also be functionalized and solubilized with HDTMS. Organotin reagents have also been used to covalently functionalize oxide nanostructures and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, thereby producing stable dispersions in CCl4 and toluene. The organotin reagents used were dibutyldimethoxytin and trioctyltinchloride. Covalent functionalization of nanostructures using organosilane and organotin reagents provides a general method applicable to large class of inorganic materials as well as carbon nanotubes and is likely to be useful in practice.