Patent ID: 7531157

Claim:
A method of solubilizing carbon nanotubes, comprising: a) providing, in any order: carbon nanotubes, and urea as a precursor of isocyanic acid and/or cyanate ion, said isocyanic acid and/or cyanate ion being capable of undergoing a polymerization reaction; b) mixing together the nanotubes with urea; c) initiating a polymerization reaction of the isocyanic acid and/or cyanate ion to yield modified carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes have functional groups on their surface and/or ends, and wherein said polymerization reaction occurs at said functional groups, wherein, before, during or after the polymerization reaction, at least one aldehyde is added to the mixture, further comprising heating the mixture, or alternatively, acidifying the mixture, or both heating and acidifying the mixture, wherein the at least one aldehyde is added during the heating and/or acidification.