Versatile Functionalization of Carbon Nanomaterials by Ferrate(VI)

Highlights Various forms of carbon nanomaterials are selected as substrates to clear the mist in understanding the reactivity/utility of ferrate(VI) in oxidizing carbon nanomaterials. It unravels a modest reactivity of ferrate(VI) in liquid phase that only oxidizes the active defects on carbon surface and a powerful oxidizing ability in solid state that can open the inert C=C bonds in carbon lattice. Respective benefit and limitation of the wet and dry approaches using ferrate(VI) in functionalizing carbon nanomaterials are discussed.