Efficient cleavage of carbon graphene layers by oxidants

Abstract

The graphene layers at carbon nanotube cap regions are efficiently cleaved by several oxidants (e.g., KMnO₄, OsO₄ and RuO₄) in acidic solution at 100 °C, but not by stronger oxidants, such as K₂Cr₂O₇–H⁺ and H₂O₂–H⁺.