Patent ID: 7829055

Claim:
A method of functionalizing nano-carbon materials having a diameter less than 1 μm, comprising: contacting the nano-carbon materials with a free radical generating compound in an organic solvent at a temperature range between 25˜150° C. under an inert gas atmosphere and thereby producing functionalized nano-carbon materials, wherein the free radical compound comprises 2,2′-azobis(2-cyano-2-butane), dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(methyl isobutyrate), 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid), 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanopentan-1-ol), 1,1′-azobis(cyclohexane carbonitrile), 2-(t-butylazo)-2-cyanopropane, 2,2′-azobis[2-methyl-(N)-(1,1)-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]propionamide, 2,2′-azobis[2-methyl-N-hydroxyethyl)]propionamide, 2,2′-azobis(N,N′-dimethyleneisobutyramidine) dihydrochloride, 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, 2,2′-azobis (N,N′-dimethyleneisobutyramine), 2,2′-azobis(2-methyl-N-[1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]propionamide, 2,2′-azobis(2-methyl-N-[1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]propionamide), 2,2′-azobis[2-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl) propionamide], 2,2′-azobis(isobutyramide)dihydrate, 2,2′-azobis(2,2,4-trimethylpentane), 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropane), or combinations thereof.