Effect of Toluene Addition in an Electric Arc on Morphology, Surface Modification, and Oxidation Behavior of Carbon Nanohorns and Their Sedimentation in Water

Abstract

Carbon nanohorns (CNHs) are attractive for various applications, where a high specific surface area and long dispersion stability in water are important. In the present work, we study these parameters of CNHs prepared by arc evaporation of graphite depending on the conditions of the synthesis and subsequent oxidation in air. It is shown that the addition of toluene in the reactor during the arcing allows obtaining CNHs functionalized with −CHx groups. Heating of CNHs in air at 400 °C leads to substitution of −CHx groups for oxygen-containing groups. Moreover, the CNH endcaps are opened at 500 °C, and as a result, the specific surface area of CNHs increases 4 times. Aqueous suspensions with a concentration of oxidized CNHs of 100 µg/mL are stable for 8 months.

Keywords

• carbon nanohorns
• oxidation
• specific surface area
• aqueous suspension
• optical absorption