Molecular interactions between carbon nanotubes and ammonium ionic liquids and their catalysis properties

• We report interactions between multi-walled carbon nanotubes and ionic liquids.
• Triethylammonium hydrogen phosphate ionic liquids are studied.
• Raman spectroscopy is used to study interactions.
• Morphological studies were carried out using scanning electron microscopy.
• Bucky gel was used as catalyst for Michael reactions.

A new catalytic method has been developed for the synthesis of aza/thia-Michael addition reactions of amines/thiols, which provide higher product yields. This catalyst is a combination of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with triethylammonium hydrogen phosphate (TEAP) ionic liquid (IL), commonly referred to as bucky gel. In order to gain insight into the interactions involved between IL and MWCNT, we utilised Raman spectroscopy for our analysis. The interactions between MWCNT with TEAP were clearly evidenced by the increasing intensity ratios and spectral shift in the wavelength for the Raman D and G bands of MWCNT. The morphological studies of the resulting composite materials of TEAP and MWCNT (bucky gel) were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The key advantage of using bucky gel as a catalyst is that higher product yield is obtained in reduced reaction time for Michael reactions.

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