On the applicability of cluster models to study the chemical reactivity of carbon nanotubes

We have performed a comparative study on the reactivity of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes using infinite and finite models. Infinite models were created using periodic boundary conditions while finite ones were constructed by means of hydrogen terminated nanotubes sections. Cluster models systematically underestimate the reactivity of metallic single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)s. We have confirmed that metallic nanotubes are more reactive than semiconducting species, in disagreement with previous works. The differences can be attributed to the presence of an instability in the singlet ground state of the wavefunction corresponding to semiconducting nanotubes clusters. When lower electronic states of the pristine cluster are considered, semiconducting nanotubes become less reactive as compared with metallic SWCNTs. Particularly, if an antiferromagnetic solution is considered for the semiconducting (10,0) SWCNT cluster, it becomes less reactive than the (5,5) SWCNT, as observed for infinite models. Because semiconducting nanotubes are less reactive than metallic counterparts, their reaction energies converge faster to the values observed for graphene. For a 1.6-nm diameter semiconducting nanotube, the addition energy is comparable with graphene. Thus, semiconducting nanotubes with diameters larger than 1.6 nm are going to be as reactive as graphene and the effects of curvature will be unimportant.     

Theoretical investigation of the stability,electronic and magnetic properties of thiolated single‐wall carbon nanotubes

The addition of SH and OH groups to single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was investigated employing first principles calculations. In the case of the semiconducting (10, 0) SWCNT the SWCNT‐SH binding energy is weak, 2–4 kcal/mol. However, for the metallic (5, 5) SWCNT it is larger, 7–9 kcal/mol. Thus metallic SWCNTs seem to be more reactive to SH than the semiconducting ones. Indeed, the (6, 6) SWCNT is more reactive to SH than the (10, 0) SWCNT, by 2–3 kcal/mol, something that can be explained only considering the electronic structure of the tube, because the (6, 6) has a larger diameter. The binding energies are larger for the addition of the OH group, 25 and 30 kcal/mol for the (10, 0) and (5, 5) SWCNTs, respectively. When a single OH or SH group is attached to the metallic SWCNTs, we observe important changes in the DOS at the Fermi level. However, when multiple SH groups are attached, the changes in the electronic and magnetic properties depend on the position of the SH groups. The small binding energy found for the SH addition indicates that the successful functionalization of SWCNTs with SH, SCH₃, and S(CH₂)_nSH groups is mostly due to the presence of defects created after acid treatment and to a minor extent by the metallic tubes present in the samples. Perfect semiconducting SWCNTs showed very low reactivity against the SH group. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Selective oxidation on metallic carbon nanotubes by halogen oxoanions

Chlorine oxoanions with the chlorine atom at different oxidation states were introduced in an attempt to systematically tailor the electronic structures of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The degree of selective oxidation was controlled systematically by the different oxidation state of the chlorine oxoanion. Selective suppression of the metallic SWCNTs with a minimal effect on the semiconducting SWCNTs was observed at a high oxidation state. The adsorption behavior and charge transfer at a low oxidation state were in contrast to that observed at a high oxidation state. Density functional calculations demonstrated the chemisorption of chloro oxoanions at the low oxidation state and their physisorption at high oxidation states. These results concurred with the experimental observations from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The sheet resistance of the SWCNT film decreased significantly at high oxidation states, which was explained in terms of a p-doping phenomenon that is controlled by the oxidation state.     

Hydrogen adsorption on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotube

The adsorption of atomic and molecular hydrogen on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes is investigated within the ab initio density functional theory. The binding energy of adsorbed hydrogen on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotube is substantially increased when compared with hydrogen on nondoped nanotube. These results are in agreement with experimental results for boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) where dangling bonds are present. The atomic hydrogen makes a chemical covalent bond with carbon substitution, while a physisorption occurs for the molecular hydrogen. For the H(2) molecule adsorbed on the top of a carbon atom in a boron site (BNNT + C(B)-H(2)), a donor defect level is present, while for the H(2) molecule adsorbed on the top of a carbon atom in a nitrogen site (BNNT + C(N)-H(2)), an acceptor defect level is present. The binding energies of H(2) molecules absorbed on carbon-doped boron nitride nanotubes are in the optimal range to work as a hydrogen storage medium.     

单壁碳纳米管的电子速度及有效质量

利用单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)能量色散关系, 计算了最低导带的电子速度和有效质量, 重点讨论了SWCNTs中最低导带电子速度和有效质量与波矢及管径大小的关系. 结果表明, 半导体型锯齿SWCNTs的电子速度和有效质量与其结构参量(管径)有直接的关系. 各种椅型SWCNTs(金属型)和金属型锯齿SWCNTs最低导带电子速度和有效质量随波矢的变化规律分别相同, 各种半导体型锯齿SWCNTs最低导带电子速度和有效质量随波矢的变化规律则有明显差别. 这意味着在低偏压下, 不同管径的椅型SWCNTs和金属型锯齿SWCNTs输运性能相同, 而各种不同管径半导体型锯齿SWCNTs输运性能有明显差别.     

A first principles study of NO2 chemisorption on silicon carbide nanotubes

Using methods based on first principles, we find that an NO₂ molecules can be chemisorbed on silicon carbide nanotubes (SiCNTs) with an appreciable binding energy (∼−1.0 eV), and that this is not the case for either carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). A detailed analysis of the energetics, geometry, and electronic structure of various isomers of the complexes was performed. The SiCNT–NO₂ complex can be metallic or nonmetallic depending on the type of adsorption site and the chirality of the tube. However, our analysis of the electronic structure predicts that a strong p-type effect of the adsorption turns semiconducting systems into metallic ones at room temperature, irrespective of the chirality of the tube.     

Selective removal of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes with small diameters by using nitric and sulfuric acids

Coexistence of metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes has often been a bottleneck in many applications and much fundamental research. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were dissolved in HNO3/H2SO4 mixture to confirm differing reactivity between metallic (m) and semiconducting (s) SWCNTs. With HNO3/H2SO4 treatment, s-SWCNTs remained intact, while m-SWCNTs were completely removed for SWCNTs with small diameters less than 1.1 nm, which was confirmed by resonant Raman and optical absorption spectra. We also showed that nitronium ions (NO2+) dissolved in the HNO3/H2SO4 solution could preferably attack the m-SWCNTs, which was supported by our theoretical calculation. This clear selectivity can be explained by the preferential adsorption of positively charged NO2+ on m-SWCNTs due to more available electron densities at the Fermi level in the m-SWCNTs. We report for the first time a selective removal of small-diameter m-SWCNTs by using HNO3/H2SO4 solution, which presented a striking contrast to the diameter-selective removal of SWCNTs by oxidative etching reported previously.     

Chirality- and diameter-dependent reactivity of NO2 on carbon nanotube walls

We report the density-functional calculations of NO2 adsorption on single-walled carbon nanotube walls. A single molecular adsorption was endothermic with an activation barrier, but a collective adsorption with several molecules became exothermic without an activation barrier. We find that NO2 adsorption is strongly electronic structure- and strain-dependent. The NO2 adsorption on metallic nanotubes was energetically more favorable than that on semiconducting nanotubes and furthermore the adsorption became less stable with increasing diameters of nanotubes. The adsorption barrier height shows similar dependence on the electronic structure and diameter to the adsorption energy. Our theoretical model can be a good guideline for the separation of nanotubes by electronic structures using various adsorbates.     

超声分散对单壁碳纳米管分离的影响

利用凝胶柱色谱技术, 研究者们通过两步或多步淋洗的方法实现了不同导电属性或电子结构单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)的分离, 并提出其分离机制主要是由不同导电属性和电子结构的SWCNTs 与凝胶填料之间作用力的差异所导致的. 基于凝胶柱色谱分离技术, 本文重点考察了超声时间对单壁碳纳米管单分散以及金属型/半导体型SWCNTs 分离的影响. 在一定的低超声功率下, 适当增加超声时间有利于SWCNTs 在十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)溶液中的单分散. 紫外-可见-近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)吸收光谱、拉曼(Raman)光谱和荧光(PL)光谱表征结果表明, 2 h的超声条件是获得高纯度的金属型以及不同直径分布的半导体型SWCNTs 的最优条件. 我们认为不同超声时间对SWCNTs 分离的影响主要是改变了SWCNTs 的单分散性和长度, 调制了不同SWCNTs 与凝胶之间作用力的差异, 从而导致了不同SWCNTs分离结果.     

Effect of substitutionally boron‐doped single‐walled semiconducting zigzag carbon nanotubes on ammonia adsorption

We investigate the binding of ammonia on intrinsic and substitutionally doped semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on the side walls using density functional calculations. Ammonia is found to be weakly physisorbed on intrinsic semiconducting nanotubes while on substitutional doping with boron its affinity is enhanced considerably reflected with increase in binding energies and charge transfer. This is attributed to the strong chemical interaction between electron rich nitrogen of ammonia and electron deficient boron of the doped SWCNT. On doping, the density of states are changed compared to the intrinsic case and additional levels are formed near the Fermi level leading to overlap of levels with that of ammonia indicating charge transfer. The doped SWCNTs thus are expected to be a potential candidate for detecting ammonia. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Tailoring electronic structures of carbon nanotubes by solvent with electron-donating and -withdrawing groups

Various electron-donating and -withdrawing groups in aromatic and aliphatic backbones of solvent have been introduced to tailor the electronic structures of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In the case of solvent with a withdrawing group, electrons were extracted mainly from metallic SWCNTs, whereas small charge transfer was also observed in semiconducting SWCNTs. On the other hand, in the case of solvent with a donating group, electrons were donated to both metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs. This effect was less prominent in solvent with an aliphatic backbone than that with an aromatic backbone. The strong correlation between the sheet resistance and electronic structures of nanotubes is further discussed in conjunction with a modulation of Schottky barrier height.     

Enhancement of hydrogen physisorption on graphene and carbon nanotubes by Li doping

Density-functional calculations of the adsorption of molecular hydrogen on a planar graphene layer and on the external surface of a (4,4) carbon nanotube, undoped and doped with lithium, have been carried out. Hydrogen molecules are physisorbed on pure graphene and on the nanotube with binding energies about 80-90 meV/molecule. However, the binding energies increase to 160-180 meV/molecule for many adsorption configurations of the molecule near a Li atom in the doped systems. A charge-density analysis shows that the origin of the increase in binding energy is the electronic charge transfer from the Li atom to graphene and the nanotube. The results support and explain qualitatively the enhancement of the hydrogen storage capacity observed in some experiments of hydrogen adsorption on carbon nanotubes doped with alkali atoms.     

Tuning the Raman resonance behavior of single-walled carbon nanotubes via covalent functionalization

We present a systematic Raman study over a range of excitation energies of arc discharge single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) covalently functionalized according to two processes, esterification and reductive alkylation. The SWCNTs are characterized by resonance Raman spectroscopy at each step of the functionalization process, showing changes in radial breathing mode frequencies and transition energies for both semiconducting and metallic tubes. Particular attention is given to a family of tubes clearly identified in the Kataura plot for which we continuously tune the excitation energy from 704 to 752 nm. This allows us to quantify the energy shift occurring in the spacing of the van Hove singularities. We demonstrate that, independently of the functionalization technique, the type of chain covalently bound to the tubes plays an important role, notably when oxygen atoms lie close to the tubes, inducing a larger shift in transition energy as compared to that of other carbonaceous chains. The study shows the complexity of interpreting Raman data and suggests many interpretations in the literature may need to be revisited.     

Interaction of acetone with single wall carbon nanotubes at cryogenic temperatures: a combined temperature programmed desorption and theoretical study

The interaction of acetone with single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at low temperatures was studied by a combination of temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and dispersion-augmented density-functional-based tight binding (DFTB-D) theoretical simulations. On the basis of the results of the TPD study and theoretical simulations, the desorption peaks of acetone can be assigned to the following adsorption sites: (i) sites with energy of approximately 75 kJ mol (-1) ( T des approximately 300 K)endohedral sites of small diameter nanotubes ( approximately 7.7 A); (ii) sites with energy 40-68 kJ mol (-1) ( T des approximately 240 K)acetone adsorption on accessible interstitial, groove sites, and endohedral sites of larger nanotubes ( approximately 14 A); (iii) sites with energy 25-42 kJ mol (-1) ( T des approximately 140 K)acetone adsorption on external walls of SWCNTs and multilayer adsorption. Oxidatively purified SWCNTs have limited access to endohedral sites due to the presence of oxygen functionalities. Oxygen functionalities can be removed by annealing to elevated temperature (900 K) opening access to endohedral sites of nanotubes. Nonpurified, as-received SWCNTs are characterized by limited access for acetone to endohedral sites even after annealing to elevated temperatures (900 K). Annealing of both purified and as-produced SWCNTs to high temperatures (1400 K) leads to reduction of access for acetone molecules to endohedral sites of small nanotubes, probably due to defect self-healing and cap formation at the ends of SWCNTs. No chemical interaction between acetone and SWCNTs was detected for low temperature adsorption experiments. Theoretical simulations of acetone adsorption on finite pristine SWCNTs of different diameters suggest a clear relationship of the adsorption energy with tube sidewall curvature. Adsorption of acetone is due to dispersion forces, with its C-O bond either parallel to the surface or O pointing away from it. No significant charge transfer or polarization was found. Carbon black was used to model amorphous carbonaceous impurities present in as-produced SWCNTs. Desorption of acetone from carbon black revealed two peaks at approximately 140 and approximately 180-230 K, similar to two acetone desorption peaks from SWCNTs. The characteristic feature of acetone desorption from SWCNTs was peak at approximately 300 K that was not observed for carbon black. Care should be taken when assigning TPD peaks for molecules desorbing from carbon nanotubes as amorphous carbon can interfere.     

Effects of the HCN adsorption on the structural and electronic parameters of the beryllium oxide nanotube

The adsorption behavior of the HCN on the surface of beryllium oxide nanotube (BeONT) is studied by the density functional theory. Geometrical parameters, electronic properties and adsorption energies have been calculated for the BeONT and fourteen different HCN configurations on the nanotube. According to the obtained results, the process of the HCN molecule adsorption on different sites on the external surface of the nanotube is exothermic and all of the configurations are stable, while the process of HCN molecule adsorption on the internal surface of the BeONT is endothermic. The adsorption energy values indicate that the HCN molecule can be physically adsorbed on the surface of the BeONT. Furthermore, the HOMO–LUMO gap (Eg) of the BeONT decreases upon the HCN adsorption, resulting in the enhancement of the electrical conductivity. The AIM theory has been also utilized to analyze the properties of the bond critical points: their electron densities and their Laplacians. NBO analysis indicates that the HCN molecule can be adsorbed on the surface of the nanotube with a charge transfer from nanotube to HCN molecule. Due to the physisorption, NQR parameters of nanotube are also altered. In order to examine the deformation degree of the nanotube after HCN molecule adsorption, deformation energy is calculated, which indicates that no significant curvature in the geometry of the nanotubes is occurred when HCN adsorbs onto the surface of BeONT.     

The non-covalent functionalisation of carbon nanotubes studied by density functional and semi-empirical molecular orbital methods including dispersion corrections

Density functional theory (DFT-D) and semi-empirical (PM3-D) methods having an added empirical dispersion correction have been used to study the binding of a series of small molecules and planar aromatic molecules to single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). For the small molecule set, the PM3-D method gives a mean unsigned error (MUE) in the binding energies of 1.2 kcal mol(-1) when judged against experimental reference data for graphitic carbon. This value is close to the MUE for this method compared to high-level ab initio data for biological complexes. The PM3-D and DFT-D calculations describing the adsorption of the planar organic molecules (benzene, bibenzene, naphthalene, anthracene, TCNQ and DDQ) on the outer-walls of both semi-conducting and metallic CNTs give similar binding energies for benzene and DDQ, but do not display a stronger adsorption on [6,6] compared to [10,0] structures shown by another DFT study.     

Hydrogen adsorption in defected carbon nanotubes

Recently there has been lot of interest in the development of hydrogen storage in various systems for the large-scale application of fuel cells, mobiles and for automotive uses. Hectic materials research is going on throughout the world with various adsorption mechanisms to increase the storage capacity. It was observed that physisorption proves to be an effective way for this purpose. Some of the materials in this race include graphite, zeolite, carbon fibers and nanotubes. Among all these, the versatile material carbon nanotube (CNT) has a number of favorable points like porous nature, high surface area, hollowness, high stability and light weight, which facilitate the hydrogen adsorption in both outer and inner portions. In this work we have considered armchair (5,5), zig zag (10,0) and chiral tubes (8,2) and (6,4) with and without structural defects to study the physisorption of hydrogen on the surface of carbon nanotubes using DFT calculations. For two different H₂ configurations, adsorption binding energies are estimated both for defect free and defected carbon nanotubes. We could observe larger adsorption energies for the configuration in which the hydrogen molecular axis perpendicular to the hexagonal carbon ring than for parallel to C–C bond configuration corresponding to the defect free nanotubes. For defected tubes the adsorption energies are calculated for various configurations such as molecular axis perpendicular to a defect site octagon and parallel to C–C bond of octagon and another case where the axis perpendicular to hexagon in defected tube. The adsorption binding energy values are compared with defect free case. The results are discussed in detail for hydrogen storage applications.     

Fabrication of carbon nanotube sheets and their bilirubin adsorption capacity

Bilirubin adsorption on carbon nanotube surfaces has been studied to develop a new adsorbent in the plasma apheresis. Powder-like carbon nanotubes were first examined under various adsorption conditions such as temperatures and initial concentrations of bilirubin solutions. The adsorption capacity was measured from the residual concentrations of bilirubin in the solution after the adsorption process using a visible absorption spectroscopy. We found that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) exhibit greater adsorption capacity for bilirubin molecules than that of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). To guarantee the safety of the adsorbents, we fabricated carbon nanotube sheets in which leakage of CNTs to the plasma is suppressed. Since SWCNTs are more suitable for robust sheets, a complex sheet consisting of SWCNTs as the scaffolds and MWCNTs as the efficient adsorbents. CNT/polyaniline complex sheets were also fabricated. Bilirubin adsorption capacity of CNTs has been found to be much larger than that of the conventional materials because of their large surface areas and large adsorption capability for polycyclic compound molecules due to their surface structure similar to graphite.