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）是一类新型材料。它们的中空结构使它们看起来像微小的吸管，长度从100纳米到几微米不等，直径只有0.8纳米到几纳米。SWNT是纳米技术产生的最有前途的材料。在所有已知材料中，SWNT具有最好的机械、电学和热学性能。它们是许多应用的终极材料，从航空、汽车、建筑和家用产品的先进材料到新的电子设备和传感器。只有学会如何处理和整合这种材料，SWNT的潜在经济影响才会实现。这就需要开发出高效且经济的方法来对材料进行化学改性。在这里，我们提出了一种独特的，具有成本效益和效率的方法，该方法将允许在合成SWNT的同一反应器中直接对其进行化学改性。这一进步将使西南地区经济的梦想成真。

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.