US Patent 7713508 - Thiation of carbon nanotube

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7713508.html

This patent from Arrowhead Center teaches a new method for functionalizing carbon nanotubes to increase interfacial binding in composites. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of functionalizing at least one nanotube comprising:

carboxylizing the at least one nanotube;

reacting the at least one nanotube with a catalyst;

activating at least one carboxylic functional group on the at least one nanotube for nucleophilic attack; and

thiolating at least one hydroxyl and carbonyl functional group thereby thiolating the at least one nanotube.