Chemical functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes in-situ a thermal plasma reactor - Fonctionalisation chimique des nanotubes de carbone mono-parois in-situ un réacteur à

单壁碳纳米管(SWNT)是一种新型材料。它的中空结构使它们看起来像细小的吸管，长度从几百纳米到几微米，直径只有0.8到几纳米。单壁碳纳米管是纳米技术产生的最有前途的材料。它具有所有已知材料中最好的机械、电和热性能。它是许多应用的终极材料，从先进的航空、汽车、从建筑和家用产品到新的电子设备和传感器。只有学会如何加工和集成材料，才能意识到单壁碳纳米管的潜在经济影响。这需要开发高效且成本效益高的程序来对材料进行化学修饰。在这里，我们提出一种独特的、具有成本效益和效率的方法，允许单壁碳纳米管在合成它们的同一反应堆中直接进行化学修饰。但这一进步将使单壁碳纳米管经济的梦想成为现实。

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are a new class of material.  Their hollow structures make them look like tiny straws with lengths ranging from several 100 nanometers to several micrometers and diameters of only 0.8 to few nanometers.   SWNT is the most promising material arising from nanotechnology.  SWNT have the best mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of any known materials.  They are the ultimate material for many applications ranging from advanced materials for aeronautics, automotive, construction and household products to new electronic devices and sensors.  The potential economic impact of SWNT will only be realized if one learns how to process and integrate the material.  This requires development of efficient and cost effective procedures to modify the material chemically.  Here, we propose a unique, cost effective and efficient approach that will allow SWNT to be chemically modified directly in the same reactor where they are synthesized.  This advance will make the dream of a SWNT economy comes true.