Reactivity of silicon‐doped carbon nanotubes toward small gaseous molecules in the atmosphere

The reactivities of the pristine and silicon doped (Si‐doped) single‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) toward small gaseous molecules in the atmosphere, such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide, were studied by performing density functional theory calculations. Compared with the physisorptions on the pristine (8, 0) CNT, these small molecules present strong chemical interactions with the Si‐doped (8, 0) tube. Doping intrinsic CNTs with silicon is expected to be a potential strategy for improving the property of pristine CNTs and expanding the application of CNTs in nanoscience and nanotechnology. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Reactivity of silicon and germanium doped CNTs toward aromatic sulfur compounds: A theoretical approach

Adsorption processes of thiophene and benzothiophene on pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and on CNTs doped with Si or Ge, have been modeled with Density Functional. This is the first study on the chemical reactivity of such doped tubes. The calculated data suggest that the presence of silicon or germanium atoms in CNTs increases their reactivity toward thiophene, and benzothiophene. The adsorption of these species on pristine CNTs seems very unlikely to occur, while the addition products involving doped CNTs were found to be very stable, with respect to the isolated reactants, in terms of Gibbs free energy. Several of these adsorption processes were found to be significantly exergonic (ΔG < 0) in non-polar liquid phase. The results reported in this work suggest that Si and Ge defects on CNTs increase their reactivity toward unsaturated species, and could make them useful in the removal processes of aromatic sulfur compounds from oil-hydrocarbons. However, according to our results, CNTs doped with Si atoms are expected to be more efficient as aromatic sulfur compounds scavengers than those doped with Ge. These results also suggest that the presence of silicon and germanium atoms in the CNTs structures enhances their reactivity toward nucleophilic molecules, compared to pristine carbon nanotubes.     

Carbon Nanotubes/Heteroatom‐Doped Carbon Core–Sheath Nanostructures as Highly Active,Metal‐Free Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Fuel Cells

A facile, scalable route to new nanocomposites that are based on carbon nanotubes/heteroatom‐doped carbon (CNT/HDC) core–sheath nanostructures is reported. These nanostructures were prepared by the adsorption of heteroatom‐containing ionic liquids on the walls of CNTs, followed by carbonization. The design of the CNT/HDC composite allows for combining the electrical conductivity of the CNTs with the catalytic activity of the heteroatom‐containing HDC sheath layers. The CNT/HDC nanostructures are highly active electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and displayed one of the best performances among heteroatom‐doped nanocarbon catalysts in terms of half‐wave potential and kinetic current density. The four‐electron selectivity and the exchange current density of the CNT/HDC nanostructures are comparable with those of a Pt/C catalyst, and the CNT/HDC composites were superior to Pt/C in terms of long‐term durability and poison tolerance. Furthermore, an alkaline fuel cell that employs a CNT/HDC nanostructure as the cathode catalyst shows very high current and power densities, which sheds light on the practical applicability of these new nanocomposites.     

Carbon Nanotubes/Heteroatom‐Doped Carbon Core–Sheath Nanostructures as Highly Active,Metal‐Free Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Fuel Cells

A facile, scalable route to new nanocomposites that are based on carbon nanotubes/heteroatom‐doped carbon (CNT/HDC) core–sheath nanostructures is reported. These nanostructures were prepared by the adsorption of heteroatom‐containing ionic liquids on the walls of CNTs, followed by carbonization. The design of the CNT/HDC composite allows for combining the electrical conductivity of the CNTs with the catalytic activity of the heteroatom‐containing HDC sheath layers. The CNT/HDC nanostructures are highly active electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction and displayed one of the best performances among heteroatom‐doped nanocarbon catalysts in terms of half‐wave potential and kinetic current density. The four‐electron selectivity and the exchange current density of the CNT/HDC nanostructures are comparable with those of a Pt/C catalyst, and the CNT/HDC composites were superior to Pt/C in terms of long‐term durability and poison tolerance. Furthermore, an alkaline fuel cell that employs a CNT/HDC nanostructure as the cathode catalyst shows very high current and power densities, which sheds light on the practical applicability of these new nanocomposites.     

One‐Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reactions

A high amount of heteroatom doping in carbon, although favorable for enhanced density of catalytically active sites, may lead to substantially decreased electroconductivity, which is necessary for the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction. Herein, a relatively low amount of nitrogen was successfully doped into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a hydrothermal approach in one step, and the synthesized nitrogen‐doped CNT (CNT‐N) materials retained most of the original, excellent characteristics, such as the graphitic structure, tubular morphology, and high surface area, of CNTs. The resultant CNT‐N materials, although containing a relatively low amount of nitrogen doping, exhibited high electrocatalytic ORR activity, comparable to that of 20 wt % Pt/C; long durability; and, more importantly, largely inhibited methanol crossover effect.     

Computational studies of boron‐ and nitrogen‐doped single‐walled carbon nanotubes as potential sensor materials of hydrogen halide molecules HX (X = F,Cl, Br)

Potential applicability of undoped, B‐, and N‐doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for elaboration of the working materials of gas sensors of hydrogen halide molecules HX (X = F, Cl, Br) is analyzed in computational studies of molecular adsorption on the CNTs surfaces. Density Functional Theory (DFT)‐based geometry‐optimized calculations of the electronic structure of undoped, B‐, and N‐doped CNTs of (3,3) and (5,5) chiralities with adsorbed HX (X = F, Cl, Br) molecules are performed within molecular cluster approach. Relaxed geometries, binding energies between the adsorbates and the nanotubes, charge states of the adsorbates and the electronic wave function contours are calculated and analyzed in the context of gas sensing applications. Obtained results are supplemented by calculations of adsorption of hydrogen halides on B(N)‐doped graphene sheets which are considered as model approximation for large‐diameter CNTs. It is found that the B‐doped CNTs are perspective for elaboration of sensing materials for detection of HCl and HBr molecules. The undoped and the N‐doped CNTs are predicted to be less suitable materials for detection of hydrogen halide gases HX (X = F, Cl, Br). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Explosive Decomposition of a Melamine–Cyanuric Acid Supramolecular Assembly for Fabricating Defect‐Rich Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes with Significantly Promoted Catalysis

A facile and scalable approach for fabricating structural defect‐rich nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes (MCSA‐CNTs) through explosive decomposition of melamine–cyanuric acid supramolecular assembly is presented. In comparison to pristine carbon nanotubes, MCSA‐CNT exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic performance in oxidant‐ and steam‐free direct dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, demonstrating the potential for metal‐free clean and energy‐saving styrene production. This finding also opens a new horizon for preparing highly‐efficient carbocatalysts rich in structural defect sites for diverse transformations.     

Chitosan‐Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Support for the High Dispersion of PtRu Nanoparticles and their Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were non‐covalently functionalized with chitosan (Chit) and then employed as the support for PtRu nanoparticles. The functionalization was carried out at room temperature without the use of corrosive acids, thereby preserving the integrity and the electronic conductivity of the CNTs. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that PtRu nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of Chit‐functionalized CNTs (CNT‐Chit) with small particle‐size. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicated that the PtRu nanoparticle/CNT‐Chit nanohybrids have a higher electrochemical surface area, electrocatalytic performance, and stability towards methanol oxidation compared to PtRu nanoparticles supported on the pristine CNTs.     

Enhanced Li Adsorption and Diffusion in Single‐Walled Silicon Nanotubes: An ab Initio Study

We report a first‐principles investigation of Li adsorption and diffusion in single‐walled Si nanotubes (SWSiNTs) of interest to Li‐ion battery anodes. We calculate Li insertion characteristics in SWSiNTs and compare them with the respective ones in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and other silicon nanostructures. From our calculations, SWSiNTs show higher reactivity toward the adsorption of Li adatoms than CNTs and Si nanoclusters. Considering the importance of Li kinetics, we demonstrate that the interior of SWSiNTs may serve as a fast Li diffusion channel. The important advantage of SWSiNTs over their carbon analogues is a sevenfold reduction in the energy barrier for the penetration of the Li atoms into the nanotube interior through the sidewalls. This prepossesses easier Li diffusion inside the tube and subsequent utilization of the interior sites, which enhances Li storage capacity of the system. The improvements in both Li uptake and Li mobility over their analogues support the great potential of SWSiNTs as Li‐ion battery anodes.     

Oxygen adsorption characteristics on hybrid carbon and boron‐nitride nanotubes

In this work, first‐principles density functional theory (DFT) is used to predict oxygen adsorption on two types of hybrid carbon and boron‐nitride nanotubes (CBNNTs), zigzag (8,0), and armchair (6,6). Although the chemisorption of O₂ on CBNNT(6,6) is calculated to be a thermodynamically unfavorable process, the binding of O₂ on CBNNT(8,0) is found to be an exothermic process and can form both chemisorbed and physisorbed complexes. The CBNNT(8,0) has very different O₂ adsorption properties compared with pristine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron‐nitride nanotube (BNNTs). For example, O₂ chemisorption is significantly enhanced on CBNNTs, and O₂ physisorption complexes also show stronger binding, as compared to pristine CNTs or BNNTs. Furthermore, it is found that the O₂ adsorption is able to increase the conductivity of CBNNTs. Overall, these properties suggest that the CBNNT hybrid nanotubes may be useful as a gas sensor or as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chiral Carbonaceous Nanotubes Modified with Titania Nanocrystals: Plasmon‐Free and Recyclable SERS Sensitivity

Chiral carbonaceous nanotubes (CNT) were successfully used in plasmon‐free surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the first time. Further modification of TiO₂ nanocrystals on the chiral CNTs successfully realized the recycling of SERS substrate as chiral CNT/TiO₂ hybrids. The high SERS sensitivity of methylene blue (MB) over the chiral CNT/TiO₂ hybrids is ascribed to the laser‐driven birefringence induced by the helical structure, which provides much more opportunities for the occurrence of Raman scattering. The TiO₂ nanocrystals highly dispersed on the surface and inside the hollow cavity of chiral CNTs can completely degrade the MB under the solar light irradiation, leading to the self‐cleaning of SERS substrate. The present research opens a new way for the application of chiral inorganic materials in plasmon‐free SERS detection.     

Stability of atomic oxygen chemisorption on Pt‐alloy surfaces

A density functional theory calculation is used to investigate the atomic oxygen (O) stability over platinum (Pt) and Pt‐based alloy surfaces. Here, the stability is connected with the preferential adsorption sites for O chemisorptions and the adsorption energy. Thus, the interaction mechanism between atomic O and metal surfaces is studied by using charge transfer analysis. In this present paper, atomic structure and binding energy of oxygen adsorption on the Pt(111) are in a very good agreement with experiment and previous density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, we obtained that the addition of ruthenium (Ru) and molybdenum (Mo) on the pure Pt surface enhances the adsorption energy. Our charge transfer analysis shows that the largest charge transfer contributing to the metal‐O bonding formation is observed in the case of O/PtRuMo surface followed by O/PtRu surface. This is in consistency with metal d‐orbital characteristic, where Mo has much more empty d‐orbital than Ru in correspondence to accept electrons from atomic oxygen. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probing the Electronic Effect of Carbon Nanotubes in Catalysis: NH3 Synthesis with Ru Nanoparticles

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been shown to modify some properties of nanomaterials and to modify chemical reactions confined inside their channels, which are formed by curved graphene layers. Here we studied ammonia synthesis over Ru as a probe reaction to understand the effect of the electron structure of CNTs on the confined metal particles and their catalytic activity. The catalyst with Ru nanoparticles dispersed almost exclusively on the exterior nanotube surface exhibits a higher activity than the CNT‐confined Ru, although both have a similar metal particle size. Characterization with TEM, N₂ physisorption, H₂ chemisorption, temperature‐programmed reduction, CO adsorption microcalorimetry, and first‐principles calculations suggests that the outside Ru exhibits a higher electron density than the inside Ru. As a result, the dissociative adsorption of N₂, which is an electrophilic process and the rate‐determining step of ammonia synthesis, is more facile over the outside Ru than that over the inside one.     

Facile One‐Pot,One‐Step Synthesis of a Carbon Nanoarchitecture for an Advanced Multifunctonal Electrocatalyst

A one‐pot/one‐step synthesis strategy was developed for the preparation of a nitrogen‐doped carbon nanoarchitecture with graphene‐nanosheet growth on the inner surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The N‐graphene/CNT hybrids exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic activity for several important electrochemical reactions as a result of their unique morphology and defect structures, such as high but uniform nitrogen doping, graphene insertion into CNTs, considerable surface area, and the presence of iron nanoparticles. The high‐yield synthetic process features high efficiency, low‐cost, straightforward operation, and simple equipment.     

Facile One‐Pot,One‐Step Synthesis of a Carbon Nanoarchitecture for an Advanced Multifunctonal Electrocatalyst

A one‐pot/one‐step synthesis strategy was developed for the preparation of a nitrogen‐doped carbon nanoarchitecture with graphene‐nanosheet growth on the inner surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The N‐graphene/CNT hybrids exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic activity for several important electrochemical reactions as a result of their unique morphology and defect structures, such as high but uniform nitrogen doping, graphene insertion into CNTs, considerable surface area, and the presence of iron nanoparticles. The high‐yield synthetic process features high efficiency, low‐cost, straightforward operation, and simple equipment.     

Hydrogen surface passivation of Si and Ge nanowires: A semiempirical approach

A semiempirical nearest‐neighbor tight‐binding approach, that reproduces the indirect band gaps of elemental semiconductors, has been applied to study the electronic and optical properties of Si and Ge nanowires (NWs). The calculations show that Si‐NWs keep the indirect bandgap whereas Ge‐NWs changes into the direct bandgap when the wire cross section becomes smaller. Also, the band gap enhancement of Si‐NWs showing to quantum confinement effects is generally larger than that of similar‐sized Ge‐NWs, confirming the larger quantum confinement effects in Si than in Ge when they are confined in two dimensions. Finally, the dependence of the imaginary part of the dielectric function on the quantum confinement within two different schemes: intra‐atomic and interatomic optical matrix elements are applied. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 110:2448–2454, 2010     

Biosensor Based on Self‐Assembling Glucose Oxidase and Dendrimer‐Encapsulated Pt Nanoparticles on Carbon Nanotubes for Glucose Detection

A novel amperometric glucose biosensor based on layer‐by‐layer (LbL) electrostatic adsorption of glucose oxidase (GOx) and dendrimer‐encapsulated Pt nanoparticles (Pt‐DENs) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was described. Anionic GOx was immobilized on the negatively charged CNTs surface by alternatively assembling a cationic Pt‐DENs layer and an anionic GOx layer. Transmission electron microscopy images and ζ‐potentials proved the formation of layer‐by‐layer nanostructures on carboxyl‐functionalized CNTs. LbL technique provided a favorable microenvironment to keep the bioactivity of GOx and prevent enzyme molecule leakage. The excellent electrocatalytic activity of CNTs and Pt‐DENs toward H₂O₂ and special three‐dimensional structure of the enzyme electrode resulted in good characteristics such as a low detection limit of 2.5 μM, a wide linear range of 5 μM–0.65 mM, a short response time (within 5 s), and high sensitivity (30.64 μA mM^?1 cm^?2) and stability (80% remains after 30 days).     

Application of Si‐doped graphene as a metal‐free catalyst for decomposition of formic acid: A theoretical study

Using density functional theory calculations, the adsorption and catalytic decomposition of formic acid (HCOOH) over Si‐doped graphene are investigated. For the stable adsorption geometries of HCOOH over Si‐doped graphene, the electronic structure properties are analyzed by adsorption energy, density of states, and charge density difference. A comparison of the reaction pathways reveals that both dehydration and dehydrogenation of HCOOH can occur over Si‐doped graphene. The estimated reaction energies and the activation barriers suggest that for the dehydration of HCOOH on the Si‐doped graphene, the rate‐controlling step is H + OH → H₂O reaction. For the dehydrogenation of HCOOH, the rate‐determining step is the breaking of the C? H bond of the HCOO group to form the CO₂ molecule and the atomic H. Our results reveal that the low cost Si‐doped graphene can be used as an efficient nonmetal catalyst for O? H bond cleavage of HCOOH. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.