Controlled Quantum Well Formation on DNA-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes via Peroxide-Mediated Aryl Diazonium Reduction.

Quantum well defect-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes are nanomaterials with wide-ranging applications in biosensing, imaging, quantum computing, and catalysis. The most common method for covalent functionalization of nanotubes for biosensing applications involves reactions with aryl diazonium salts to generate sp aryl defect sites, commonly followed by wrapping with single-stranded DNA for aqueous dispersion. We describe herein a rapid aryl diazonium functionalization reaction directly compatible with DNA-wrapped nanotubes, mediated by hydrogen peroxide. The reaction uses mild aqueous conditions at physiological pH and can be easily monitored in real-time via fluorescence analysis to control the degree of functionalization. Overall, this reaction greatly simplifies the production of covalently functionalized DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes, expanding their potential for industrial and biomedical applications.