Selective chemical functionalization of carbon nanobuds

Carbon nanobuds (CNBs) are a novel nanoscale carbon hybrid material consisting of fullerene-like structures covalently bonded to the outer surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The successful covalent modification of CNBs by double carboxylic group in Bingel reaction was demonstrated. It was found that CNBs have higher chemical reactivity compared to CNTs in the reactions of cyclopropanation. Chemical structures of the modified CNBs and CNTs were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, TEM and EDX-spectroscopy. Using light sensitive molecule – 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin, it was shown that the resistance of modified CNB network can be reversibly switched by low power UV illumination with the detection speed less than 0.3 s.