Reductive functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes with lithium metal catalyzed by electron carrier additives

Lithium metal can be used to reduce single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) to carbide-like species under the catalytic effect of di-tert-butyl-biphenyl (DTBP). The resulting nanotube polycarbanions show a significantly increased dispersability in THF and react "in situ" with trimethylchlorosilane, methyl methacrylate, and methyl N-acetamidoacrylate to afford covalently functionalized silyl nanotubes and polymer-wrapped SWNT. The density and average length of the polymer chains attached to the nanotube wall can be widely modified by varying the amount of monomer, lithium, and catalyst.