On the sidewall functionalization of carbon nanotubes

Theoretical investigations (Density-Functional Tight-Binding-DFTB) about the functionalization of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by fluorination are reported. It is shown that side-wall modified nanotubes may show a wide variety of electronic properties, but may open also possibilities for tailoring solubility and assembling properties of nanotubes.