Can someone give me an idea of how the thermal stability of the CNT changes after wrapping the DNA. I have taken the TGA in the presence of air. The file is also attached here.
IMO more than TGA., DTA curves are more useful in interpreting thermal degradation behavior of organically functionalized CNTs...
Higher ash content in DNA-CNT is understandable since DNA contains inorganics like P.. but it depends on the percentage of DNA in your CNT-DNA composite.
I find it curious that there is only 1 step in the composite. Also, the temperature where the pristine CNTs burn is higher than I expected. The ones I've decomposed happen near 600 deg. C and is complete by 700. Can you comment on the CNT source (production method, diameter, single wall, multi wall, etc?)
TGA alone does not say enough, you should obtain either DTA or DSC thermograms of both samples and pristine DNA while you're at it. I'd also look at running the measurements in both inert atmosphere and in the presence of oxygen/air.
DTA will give you a good idea of temperatures of thermal events, but if you want to quantify the events you should use DSC as it is more accurate. The small caveat is that DSCs cannot go to as high temperatures as routinely as DTAs can.
I think you should do a comparison with DNA only. Anyway, I agree with Michel it is curious that there is only 1 step in the thermogram. The fact that the DNA-CNT have a lower decomposition temperature may be due to a sonication process in dispersing nanotubes in DNA solution (?).
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