Gamma Irradiation Induced Surface Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Waste

Nor Adnin Ezani Mohd Ezani (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Mohd Hamzah Harun (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Izzuddin Mohd Zaharuddin (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Norfazlinayati Othman (Universiti Putra Malaysia)
Mahathir Mohamed (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Mohd Sofian Alias (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Mohd Faizal Abd Rahman (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Khairil Nor Kamal Umar (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Nurul Huda Mudri (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Farah Fadzehah Hilmi (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Khairul Azhar Abdul Halim (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)
Rida Tajau (Malaysian Nuclear Agency)

Journal of Material Science and Radiation
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): August

Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by using chemical vapor deposition using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. The CNTs that were produced were functionalized with organic acid namely benzoic acids from 0 up to 70 kGy using gamma irradiation. To determine the acid groups, acid base titration was utilized whereas transmission electron microscope was used to determine the morphology of the functionalized CNT and dispersion characteristic was carried out for pristine and functionalized CNTs. The results obtained show that gamma irradiation significantly induce acid functionalized CNT as compared to unirradiated acid functionalized CNT. This indicates the importance of radiation technique in functionalizing carbon nanomaterials which is feasible, green, clean and process-effective.