The diels-alder cycloaddition reaction in the functionalization of carbon nanofibers

Abstract

Carbon nanofibres were functionalized by a Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction of 1,3-butadiene, generated in situ from sulfolene. The experimental conditions were selected on the basis of a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study on the reagents and the functionalization was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Analysis performed on the surface of the functionalized material by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and FT-IR using the Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) technique indicates that the carbonyl and sulfoxide groups are present on the surface of the functionalized material. The acidic surface of the functionalized nanofiber suggests the presence of carboxylic acid and possibly sulfonic acid groups.