Abstract
Microwaves have proven to be a powerful ally in any synthetic effort, shortening reaction times considerably and in some cases facilitating the reaction by offering higher yields or fewer byproducts. Since the mid ‘ 90s microwave-assisted synthesis has found its way into carbon nanostructures, offering significant advantages towards their functionalization. In this review, an overview of the latest trends in microwave-assisted functionalization of carbon nanostructured materials is presented covering major breakthroughs achieved in the last years for this novel, intriguing and non-conventional synthetic approach.
Keywords: Fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, microwaves, functionalization, solubilization, hybrids, characterization, carbon, nanostructured materials, graphene sheets, nanotechnology, photodiodes, light emitting devices, medicinal chemistry, organic solvents