Synthesis and characterization of nucleobase-carbon nanotube hybrids

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterization of adenine-single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) hybrid materials, where for the first time nucleobases are covalently attached to the exosurface of SWCNTs. The structural properties of all hybrids have been characterized using usual spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The degree of functional groups for functionalized SWCNTs (f-SWCNTs) 2a and 2b is one adenine group for each 26 and 37 carbon atoms, respectively. Solid-state magic angle spinning 13C NMR spectroscopy (MAS NMR) and electrochemistry have been also applied for the characterization of these f-SWCNTs. AFM images of f-SWCNT 2b showed an interesting feature of horizontally aligned nanotubes along the surface when deposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface. Furthermore, we evaluated the coordinating ability of these hybrid materials toward silver ions, and interestingly, we found a pattern of silver nanoparticles localized over the surface of the carbon nanotube network. The presence of aligned and randomly oriented CNTs and their ability to coordinate with metal ions make this class of materials very interesting for applications in the development of novel electronic devices and as new supports for different catalytic transformations.