Effects of carbon dioxide and acidic carbon compounds on the analysis of Boehm titration curves

In the characterization of the surface functionality of acid-oxidized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using the Boehm titration method, dissolution of acidic carbon compounds (ACCs) fragmented from the acid-oxidized CNTs and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in the reaction base results in a somewhat over-estimation of the surface functionality of the CNTs. We developed a modified Henderson–Hasselbalch equation to show that the influence of the carboxylic and phenolic groups of ACCs and atmospheric CO2 on the resultant titration curve can be identified and quantitatively measured, which makes it possible to determine the true surface functionality of acid-oxidized CNTs and ACCs.