A green route to water soluble carbon nanotubes and in situ loading of silver nanoparticles.

A green approach has been developed to synthesize water soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). Ag nanoparticles have been loaded on the as-synthesized MWNTs via the in situ solution method. The strategy is based on the introduction of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups through a mild modification of MWNTs via polycondensation of citric acid and D-sorbitol, improving the water solubility of MWNTs, giving rise to preferred sites of Ag nucleation, and providing mild in situ reducing agents. The modification of MWNTs and loading of Ag nanoparticles on MWNTs were demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.