Silanized carbon nanotubes and method for the production thereof

1. A process for silanizing carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes are oxidized and subsequently exposed to a saturated gas phase comprising one or more organosilane derivatives which form covalent bonds to the carbon nanotubes with siloxane formation.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the silanization is carried out by exposing the oxidized carbon nanotubes to a gas mixture comprising an inert gas and the vapor phase of a solution of one or more organosilane derivatives in an aprotic solvent.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein organosilane derivatives of the general formula RSiX 3 , R 2 SiX 2 or R 3 SiX or mixtures of two or three of these organosilane derivatives are used, where X is a functional group selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, alkoxy groups having straight-chain or branched C 1 -C 30 radicals, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and naphthoxy, and the radicals R are each, independently of one another, an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, amino, and hydroxyl groups.

4. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein organosilane derivatives of the general formula RSiX 3 , R 2 SiX 2 or R 3 SiX or mixtures of two or three of these organosilane derivatives are used, where X is a functional group selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, alkoxy groups having straight-chain or branched C 1 -C 30 radicals, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and naphthoxy, and the radicals R are each, independently of one another, an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, amino, and hydroxyl groups.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 15° C. to 130° C. for a time of from 1 minute to 24 hours.

6. The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 20° C. to 100° C.

7. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 15° C. to 130° C. for a time of from 1 minute to 24 hours.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 20° C. to 100° C.

9. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 15° C. to 130° C. for a time of from 1 minute to 24 hours.

10. The process as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 20° C. to 100° C.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the oxidation is carried out so that the degree of oxidation of the oxidized carbon nanotubes is in a range from 0.2 to 1.0 hydroxyl group per square nanometer.

12. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the oxidation is carried out so that the degree of oxidation of the oxidized carbon nanotubes is in a range from 0.2 to 1.0 hydroxyl group per square nanometer.

13. The process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the oxidation is carried out so that the degree of oxidation of the oxidized carbon nanotubes is in a range from 0.2 to 1.0 hydroxyl group per square nanometer.

14. The process as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the oxidation is carried out so that the degree of oxidation of the oxidized carbon nanotubes is in a range from 0.2 to 1.0 hydroxyl group per square nanometer.

15. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are grown directly on a substrate and are oxidized in the gas phase.

16. The process as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the organosilane derivative is a mixture of two or three of the organosilane derivatives.

17. The process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the organosilane derivative is a mixture of two or three of the organosilane derivatives.

18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the oxidation is carried out so that the degree of oxidation of the oxidized carbon nanotubes is in the range of 0.2 to 1.0 hydroxyl groups per square nanometer, and the silanization is carried out at a temperature in a range from 15° C. to 130° C. for a time of from 1 minute to 24 hours.