Room-Temperature Synthesis of Soluble Carbon Nanotubes by the Sonication of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Abstract: The transformation of two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets into carbon nanotubes
was achieved by sonicating GO in 70% nitric acid. Through the use of mass spectrometry to track the
evolution of molecular fragments during the acid ultrasonication, it was observed that GO can be readily
decomposed into polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The cavitation-induced condensation of these PAHs
results in their molecular reconstruction to form folded carbon nanostructures. UV-emitting, water-soluble
carbon nanoparticles as well as carbon nanotubes that exhibit magnetic properties were fabricated under
catalyst-free conditions.

 J. AM. CHEM. SOC. ，2009， ASAP.  DOI:10.1021/ja905968v

合成的机理以及过程如下示意图所示：