Amphiphile replacement on carbon nanotube surfaces: Effect of aromatic groups on the interaction strength

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were solubilized using akyl/polyglycerol amphiphiles. Similar cosurfactants, bearing different aromatic moieties between head and tail, were added to these samples. The interaction strength between these amphiphiles and CNTs changes depending on the inserted aromatic moieties. The insertion of a phenyl ring allows the amphiphile to replace the starting one indicating a higher interaction strength, while the insertion of a triazol pentagon does not, suggesting that the interaction strength is lower. The replacement was monitored via PLE mapping.