Influence of chemical processing on the morphology, crystalline content and thermal stability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The effect of several kinds of chemical processing methods on the morphology, crystalline content and thermal stability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. Chemical processing can prevent the agglomerate of MWCNTs and improve their dispersion state. Amine functionalization further changes the surface property of MWCNTs and enhances their distribution. Quantitative analysis of the crystalline content of MWCNTs was performed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The WAXD patterns were deconvoluted into the crystalline diffraction peaks and the amorphous scattering peaks. The introduction of the correction factor of the integral intensity can enhance the computational accuracy of the crystalline content. Chemical processing is beneficial to improve the crystalline content of MWCNTs and enhance their intrinsic thermal decomposition resistance ability. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.