US Patent 7754054 - Microwave induced functionalization of SWCNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7754054.html

Functionalization is an important step to sorting carbon nanotubes or to form chemical sensors using nanotubes. This patent from NJIT teaches that the speed of nanotube functionalization may be enhanced by application of microwaves. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for rapidly generating a soluble, functionalized nanomaterial comprising:

providing a substantially non-soluble nanomaterial and at least one functionalizing reactant; and

subjecting the nanomaterial and the at least one functionalizing reactant to microwave conditions;

wherein after the nanomaterial and the at least one functionalizing reactant are subjected to the microwave conditions, the nanomaterial is: (i) functionalized, and (ii) substantially soluble in a solvent.