Conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotubes

In a system of N interacting single-level quantum dots (QDs), we study the relaxation dynamics and the current–voltage characteristics determined by symmetry properties of the QD arrangement. Different numbers of dots, initial charge configurations, and various coupling regimes to reservoirs are considered. We reveal that effective charge trapping occurs for particular regimes of coupling to the reservoir when more than two dots form a ring structure with the C_N spatial symmetry. We reveal that the effective charge trapping caused by the C_N spatial symmetry of N coupled QDs depends on the number of dots and the way of coupling to the reservoirs. We demonstrate that the charge trapping effect is directly connected with the formation of dark states, which are not coupled to reservoirs due to the system spatial symmetry C_N. We also reveal the symmetry blockade of the tunneling current caused by the presence of dark states.     

Hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Towards the development of a useful mechanism for hydrogen storage, we have studied the hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes with atomic hydrogen using core-level photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. We find that atomic hydrogen creates C-H bonds with the carbon atoms in the nanotube walls, and such C-H bonds can be completely broken by heating to 600 degrees C. We demonstrate approximately 65 +/- 15 at % hydrogenation of carbon atoms in the single-walled carbon nanotubes, which is equivalent to 5.1 +/- 1.2 wt % hydrogen capacity. We also show that the hydrogenation is a reversible process.     

Nucleation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The nucleation pathway for single-wall carbon nanotubes on a metal surface is demonstrated by a series of total energy calculations using density functional theory. Incorporation of pentagons at an early stage of nucleation is energetically favorable as they reduce the number of dangling bonds and facilitate curvature of the structure and bonding to the metal. In the presence of the metal surface, nucleation of a closed cap or a capped single-wall carbon nanotube is overwhelmingly favored compared to any structure with dangling bonds or to a fullerene.     

Conjugated polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes: physical properties and device applications

The aim of this article is to present an overview about the preparation method and physical properties of a new hybrid system consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) wrapped by conjugated polymers. The technique firstly demonstrated in 2007 has attracted great interest because of the high purity of the resulting semiconducting SWNTs and the possibility of applying them in electronic devices. Here, we will review recent progresses regarding the preparation of these nano-hybrids, their photophysical properties and application in field-effect transistors and photovoltaic devices.     

Ester-functionalized soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes

We report the preparation of soluble ester- functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (sSWNT-COO(CH₂)₁₇CH₃). By use of solution phase IR spectroscopy we are able to compare the ratio of the carbon atoms in the SWNT backbone to the carbon atoms in the ester and amide functionalities of s-SWNTs. Received: 16 July 2001 / Accepted: 3 December 2001 / Published online: 4 March 2002     

Bactericidal action of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The action of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on cells of the genetically engineered K12 TG1 strain of Escherichia coli, which have a luminescent phenotype generated by the cloning of the lux operon of the native luminescent marine bacterium Photobacterium leiognathi into the strain, is studied in this work. The survival rate of the bacterial cells and their morphological changes are studied by means of atomic force microscopy as a function of their exposure to SWCNTs.     

单壁纳米碳管的声子谱研究

通过五步旋转操作方便地得到了不同位置原子间的力常数矩阵，从而可以使对各种不同类型管的声子谱的计算变得简便. 计算表明，非螺旋的扶手椅型（n, n）管与锯齿型(n, 0)管的非简并和二重简并模式数分别为12和6(n-1)，这与从群论等方法所得结果相符. 关键词： 纳米碳管 声子谱 振动模式密度 动力学矩阵     

Flame synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Flames offer potential for synthesis of carbon nanotubes in large quantities at considerably lower costs than that of other methods currently available. This study aims to examine conditions for carbon nanotube formation in premixed flames and to characterize the morphology of solid carbon deposits and their primary formation mechanisms in the combustion environment. Single-walled nanotubes have been observed in the post-flame region of a premixed acetylene/oxygen/15 mol% argon flame operated at 6.7 kPa with Fe(CO)₅ vapor used as a source of metallic catalyst necessary for nanotube growth. Thermophoretic sampling and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the solid material present in the flame at various heights above burner (HAB), giving a resolution of formation dynamics within the flame system. Catalyst particle formation and growth is observed to dominate the immediate post-flame region (10–40 mm HAB). Nanotubes were observed to be present after 40 mm HAB with nanotube inception occurring as early as 30 mm HAB. Between 40 and 70 mm HAB, nanotubes are observed to coalesce into clusters. A nanotube formation ‘window’ is evident with formation limited to fuel equivalence ratios between 1.5 and 1.9. A continuum of morphologies ranging from relatively clean clusters of nanotubes to amorphous material is observed between these lower and upper limits. High-resolution TEM and Raman spectroscopy revealed nanotube bundles with each nanotube being single-walled with diameters between 0.9 and 1.5 nm.     

Broadband optical limiting performance of polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes in the orange-NIR region

Soluble multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been obtained by noncovalent modification with poly [2-methoxy,5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV). For the composite MWNT/MEH-PPV, there is π-π interaction between the MEH-PPV and MWNTs in addition to the wrapping of the polymer. The nonlinear optical transmittance was measured using a nanosecond optical parametric oscillator pumped with a Nd:YAG system. Excellent optical limiting performance of the composite MWNT/MEH-PPV was observed both in the visible region of 590-680 nm and at the wavelength of 1064 nm. By means of time-correlated single-photon counting fluorescence measurement, an explanation based on the nonlinear absorption of MWNT dominated by the intermolecular energy transfer was proposed.     

Interband magneto-optics in single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have carried out magneto-absorption and magneto-photoluminescence experiments on micelle-suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes in magnetic fields up to 45 T. Chirality-assigned spectral peaks exhibit significant changes with increasing magnetic field, which can be quantitatively explained in terms of the theoretically predicted splittings and redshifts of the band edge due to the Aharonov–Bohm effect combined with the magnetic-field-induced alignment of the nanotubes.     

Piezoresistive effect in single-walled carbon nanotubes

This paper reports on the results of the theoretical investigation of the piezoresistive effect in single-walled carbon nanotubes of two structural modifications: arm-chair type and zig-zag type. The variation in the band gap of semiconducting nanotubes under the influence of the compressive and tensile deformations has been analyzed. The main quantitative characteristic of the piezoresistive effect—the longitudinal component of the elastic conductivity tensor—has been calculated, and its dependence on the diameter of semiconducting nanotubes has been shown. The variants of practical implementation of the effect under study have been proposed.     

Axial-strain-induced torsion in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Using classical molecular dynamics and empirical potentials, we show that the axial deformation of single-walled carbon nanotubes is coupled to their torsion. The axial-strain-induced torsion is limited to chiral nanotubes-graphite sheets rolled around an axis that breaks its symmetry. Small strain behavior is consistent with chirality and curvature-induced elastic anisotropy (CCIEA)-carbon nanotube rotation is equal and opposite in tension and compression, and decreases with curvature and chirality. The large-strain compressive response is remarkably different. The coupling progressively decreases, in contrast to the tensile case, and changes its sign at a critical compressive strain. Thereafter, it untwists with increasing axial strain and then rotates in the opposite direction, i.e., the same sense as under tension. This suggests that the response is now dictated by a combination of nonlinear elasticity and CCIEA.     

Parametric instabilities in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Parametric instabilities induced by the coupling excitation between the high frequency quantum Langmuir waves and the low frequency quantum ion-acoustic waves in single-walled carbon nanotubes are studied with a quantum Zakharov model. By linearizing the quantum hydrodynamic equations, we get the dispersion relations for the high frequency quantum Langmuir wave and the low frequency quantum ion-acoustic wave. Using two-time scale method, we obtain the quantum Zaharov model in the cylindrical coordinates. Decay instability and four-wave instability are discussed in detail. It is shown that the carbon nanotube＇s radius, the equilibrium discrete azimuthal quantum number, the perturbed discrete azimuthal quantum number, and the quantum parameter all play a crucial role in the instabilities.     

Optical anisotropy in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Optical anistropy at optical communication wavelength was observed in films of vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). We report the control of both the polarization state and transmission of incoming light at 1550 nm by azimuthal and axial tilting of SWNT film about its aligned axis. The experiments reveal that the polarization state of light is susceptible to the azimuthal angle of the aligned direction of a SWNT having semiconductor characteristics and the intensity of the output beam after SWNT film shows cosine function dependence on the axial tilting angle.     

One-step preparation of water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes

A novel one-step process using potassium persulfate (KPS) as oxidant is proposed in this paper to prepare water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The process without the need for organic solvents and acids is a low-cost, eco-friendly, facile method. Morphology observation by atomic force microscopy (AFM) indicates that the KPS-treated SWNTs were effectively debundled without obvious shortening in their length. The functional groups and thermal stability of the treated SWNTs were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XPS results show that several functional groups such as potassium carboxylate (-COOK), carbonyl (-CO) and hydroxyl (-C-OH) groups were formed on the surfaces of the SWNTs, while the TGA results reveal that the quantity of the functional groups can reach to approximately 20%.     

Nonlinear size-dependent behaviour of single-walled carbon nanotubes

This paper examines the nonlinear size-dependent behaviour of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) based on the von-Karman nonlinearity and the nonlocal elasticity theory capable of predicting size effects. To this end, based on Hamilton’s principle in the framework of the nonlocal Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, the equation of motion and associated boundary conditions are derived. Then, with the aid of a high-dimensional Galerkin scheme, the nonlinear partial differential equation of motion of the SWCNT is recast into a reduced-order model. The dynamic response of the system is then investigated for two different types of excitation, namely primary and superharmonic excitations. Eventually, the effect of the slenderness ratio, forcing amplitude, and excitation frequency on the motion characteristics of the system is investigated.     

On the vibrations of single-walled carbon nanotubes

In this paper, a detailed numerical study on the free and forced vibrations of single walled carbon nanotubes is presented. A simple and straightforward method developed such that the proximity of the mathematical model to the actual atomic structure of the nanotube is significantly retained, is used for this purpose. Both zigzag and armchair chiralities of the carbon nanotubes for clamped-free and clamped-clamped boundary conditions are analyzed and their natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes are obtained. Results pertaining to axial, bending, and torsional modes of vibration are reported with discussions. These modes of vibration appear in the eigen-values and eigen-vectors without any distinction. The direct integration method by Newmark is used extensively along with the fast Fourier transform to identify different types of vibrational modes. In the case of zigzag nanotubes, the axial, bending, and torsional modes appear to be decoupled, whereas the armchair nanotubes show coupling between such modes.     

Nonlinear conductivity of single-walled zigzag carbon nanotubes

The conductivity of the single-walled zigzag carbon nanotube system was studied in an alternating electric field with the intensity vector along the axis of nanotubes. The electronic carbon nanotube system was macroscopically considered in terms of the Boltzmann kinetic equation in the constant relaxation time approximation while omitting the interaction with the phonon subsystem. The nonlinear responses to the applied harmonic field were calculated and analyzed.     

Purification and fractionation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

This study presents the approach to the purification and subsequent metallic/semiconductive (M/S) fractionation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with diameter from 1.04 to 1.60 nm produced via laser ablation. SWCNTs were purified through 3-fold refluxing processes in nitric acid followed by the multiple washings with sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. The purified-annealed SWCNTs sample was divided into seven batches. One batch was dispersed in acetone as a reference sample. Each of the remaining batches were dispersed in one of the following surface agents: sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium cholate acid (SCA), sodium deoxycholate, cetrimonium bromide, cetylpyridinium chloride, and benzalkonium chloride (BKC). SWCNT suspensions were fractionated via free solution electrophoresis technique. The recovered fractions from electrode and control areas were analyzed via optical absorption spectroscopy in UV–Vis–NIR range to evaluate the efficiency of the separation process. Raman spectroscopy was applied to analyze the purity of the samples. The catalyst content was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The morphology of the investigated samples was observed via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. This contribution clearly shows that among the investigated surfactants there are two promising candidates (SCA and BKC) which can efficiently enrich the bulk sample in one electronic type of carbon nanotubes when FSE is applied.