Graphite Powder and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Chemically Modified with 4-Nitrobenzylamine

We demonstrate that graphite powder and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be derivatised by 4‐nitrobenzylamine (4‐NBA) simply by stirring the graphite powder or MWCNTs in a solution of acetonitrile containing 10 mM 4‐NBA. We propose that 4‐NBA partially intercalates at localised edge‐plane or edge‐plane‐like defect sites and support this hypothesis with a range of experimental data provided by electrochemistry in both aqueous and nonaqueous media, electron microscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction. Derivatisation of carbon surfaces with 4‐nitrobenzylamine (4‐NBA) was successfully achieved and investigated by several techniques. The authors propose the partial intercalation of 4‐NBA into localised edge‐plane defect sites along the carbon surface of both graphite powder and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The mechanism of the electrochemical reduction of 4‐NBA‐modified carbon‐based electrodes in aqueous and nonaqueous media was also investigated (see figure).