Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated single-walled carbon nanotubes and their performance as solid acid catalyst

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were treated with sulfuric acid at 300 °C to synthesize sulfonated SWCNTs (s-SWCNTs), which were characterized by electron microscopy, infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermo analysis. Compared with activated carbon, more sulfonic acid groups can be introduced onto the surfaces of SWCNTs. The high degree (∼20 wt%) of surface sulfonation led to hydrophilic sidewalls that allows the SWCNTs to be uniformly dispersed in water and organic solvents. The high surface acidity of s-SWCNTs was demonstrated by NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption technique and tested by an acetic acid esterification reaction catalyzed by s-SWCNTs. The results show that the water-dispersive s-SWCNTs are an excellent solid acid catalyst and demonstrate the potential of SWCNTs in catalysis applications.     

Selective photochemical functionalization of surfactant-dispersed single wall carbon nanotubes in water

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) individually dispersed in surfactants leads to diameter and type-selective photohydroxylation of the nanotubes. Photohydroxylation of first semiconductor and then small diameter metallic SWCNTs was confirmed after 254 nm UV irradiation in acidic, neutral, and basic aqueous solutions at ambient and elevated temperatures. The increased oxygen content of the SWCNTs after UV irradiation, as detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggests that SWCNTs were hydroxylated by reaction with water. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared analysis provides evidence of hydroxyl functional groups on their surface. This photochemical reaction is impeded by molecular oxygen and appears to involve a reactive intermediate generated in the vicinity of semiconducting SWCNTs. This represents a noncontaminating selective reaction in the liquid phase that uses an intrinsic property of the tubes.     

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.     

琼脂糖性质对凝胶电泳法分离金属性和半导体性单壁碳纳米管的影响

利用琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)技术, 考察了MB, Agarose, Agarose B和LRU 4种琼脂糖对SWCNTs分离效率的影响. 紫外-可见-近红外(UV-Vis-NIR)吸收光谱研究结果表明, 不同的琼脂糖对SWCNTs中s-SWCNTs的分离效率影响较小, 而对m-SWCNTs的分离效率影响较大. 分析4种琼脂糖凝胶的凝胶强度和凝胶网孔尺寸等发现, 影响SWCNTs中m-SWCNTs分离效率的主要因素是琼脂糖的凝胶强度和琼脂糖凝胶形成的网孔尺寸, 小的凝胶网孔尺寸有利于m-SWCNTs富集, 高凝胶强度则不利于其富集.     

多糖凝胶的孔径和化学结构对单壁碳纳米管流动性和选择性分离的影响

基于凝胶柱色谱分离技术研究了单分散的单壁碳纳米管(SWCNTs)在不同化学结构多孔多糖凝胶中的流动特性以及对金属型(m-)/半导体型(s-)SWCNTs分离的影响.通过比较SWCNTs在一系列不同孔径的葡聚糖Sephacryl凝胶中的流动行为,发现减小孔径尺寸能够增强s-SWCNTs与凝胶之间的吸附作用力,使大直径的m-SWCNTs快速地流过凝胶颗粒,而选择性地保留了小直径的s-SWCNTs.进一步发现多糖凝胶化学结构比孔径尺寸在SWCNTs的m/s分离中起着更重要的作用.当基于葡聚糖结构的Sephacryl凝胶中的氨基结构被琼脂糖结构所取代时,如Superdex 200和Sepharose 2B凝胶会增强它们与SWCNTs之间的作用力,使SWCNTs的保留时间延长,降低了s-SWCNTs的选择性和纯度.此外,即使拥有与Sephacryl S100类似的孔径范围,当Sephacryl凝胶中的氨基被疏水环氧丙烷基团取代时,葡聚糖凝胶Sephadex G100与SWCNTs的作用力很弱,导致所有SWCNTs快速流动,无法实现SWCNTs的m/s分离.因而,我们认为凝胶孔径和化学结构共同影响并调控了SWCNTs的m/s分离的选择性、纯度以及分离效率.     

多糖凝胶的孔径和化学结构对单壁碳纳米管流动性和选择性分离的影响

基于凝胶柱色谱分离技术研究了单分散的单壁碳纳米管（SWCNTs）在不同化学结构多孔多糖凝胶中的流动特性以及对金属型（m-）/半导体型（s-）SWCNTs 分离的影响. 通过比较SWCNTs 在一系列不同孔径的葡聚糖Sephacryl 凝胶中的流动行为,发现减小孔径尺寸能够增强s-SWCNTs 与凝胶之间的吸附作用力,使大直径的m-SWCNTs 快速地流过凝胶颗粒,而选择性地保留了小直径的s-SWCNTs. 进一步发现多糖凝胶化学结构比孔径尺寸在SWCNTs 的m/s 分离中起着更重要的作用. 当基于葡聚糖结构的Sephacryl 凝胶中的氨基结构被琼脂糖结构所取代时,如Superdex 200 和Sepharose 2B凝胶会增强它们与SWCNTs 之间的作用力,使SWCNTs 的保留时间延长,降低了s-SWCNTs 的选择性和纯度. 此外,即使拥有与Sephacryl S100类似的孔径范围,当Sephacryl 凝胶中的氨基被疏水环氧丙烷基团取代时,葡聚糖凝胶Sephadex G100 与SWCNTs 的作用力很弱,导致所有SWCNTs 快速流动,无法实现SWCNTs 的m/s 分离. 因而,我们认为凝胶孔径和化学结构共同影响并调控了SWCNTs的m/s分离的选择性、纯度以及分离效率.     

New technique of synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes from ethanol using fluidized-bed over Fe-Mo/MgO catalyst

A new technique of synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been developed by means of the catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method from ethanol over MgO supported catalyst using fluidized-bed. Ethanol vapor was introduced into the fluidized-bed from a temperature-controlled bubbler by the flow of Ar without rotary pump. With this technique, the reaction conditions can be controlled simply. The fluidized-bed was applied as the reactor instead of quartz boats. Ethanol vapor and the powder of catalyst can be mixed with each other more sufficiently. MgO support can be easily removed from SWCNTs by acid solution. Characteristics of as-grown SWCNTs were presented using Raman spectroscopic and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing that the SWCNTs produced by this method possess the significant quality of being free from amorphous carbons and having uniform diameter.     

Selective and Scalable Chemical Removal of Thin Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes from their Mixtures with Double‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Double‐walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) are materials in high demand due to their superior properties. However, it is very challenging to prepare DWCNTs samples of high purity. In particular, the removal of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) contaminants is a major problem. Here, a procedure for a selective removal of thin‐diameter SWCNTs from their mixtures with DWCNTs by lithium vapor treatment is investigated. The results are evaluated by Raman spectroscopy and in situ Raman spectroelectrochemistry. It is shown that the amount of SWCNTs was reduced by about 35 % after lithium vapor treatment of the studied SWCNTs–DWCNTs mixture.     

Single chirality extraction of single-wall carbon nanotubes for the encapsulation of organic molecules

The hollow inner spaces of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can confine various types of molecules. Many remarkable phenomena have been observed inside SWCNTs while encapsulating organic molecules (peapods). However, a mixed electronic structure state of the surrounding SWCNTs has impeded a detailed understanding of the physical/chemical properties of peapods and their device applications. We present a single-chirality purification method for SWCNTs that can encapsulate organic molecules. A single-chiral state of (11,10) SWCNTs with a diameter of 1.44 nm, which is large enough for molecular encapsulation, was obtained after a two-step purification method: metal-semiconductor sorting and cesium-chloride sorting. The encapsulation of C(60) to the (11,10) SWCNTs was also succeeded, promising a route toward single-chirality peapod devices.     

Double Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes with Purine and Pyrimidine Derivatives

Herein, we have developed a synthetic strategy for the covalent double functionalization of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with a combination of purine–pyrimidine and purine–purine nucleobase systems. The nucleobases were introduced on the sidewall of oxidized SWCNTs through 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition and by amidation of the carboxylic acids located at the tips and defect sites of the nanotubes. The new nanohybrids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, magic‐angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, and Kaiser test. The nucleobase/SWCNT conjugates can be envisaged for the modulation of the interactions with nucleic acids by means of base pairing, thereby opening new possibilities in the development of DNA/CNT nanobioconjugates.     

A temperature window for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of CH4 over Mo-Fe/MgO catalyst

A temperature window of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) growth has been studied by Raman spectroscopy. The results presented when temperature lower than 750 degrees C, there were few SWCNTs formed, and when temperature higher than 900 degrees C, mass amorphous carbons were formed in the SWCNTs bundles due to the self-decomposition of CH4. The temperature window of SWCNTs efficiently growth is between 800 and 900 degrees C, and the optimum growth temperature is about 850 degrees C. These results were supported by transmission electron microscope images of samples formed under different temperature. The temperature window is important for large-scale production of SWCNTs by catalytic chemical vapor deposition method.     

Enrichment of large‐diameter semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes by a mixed‐extractor strategy

In this work, we report a new mixed‐extractor strategy to improve the sorting yield of large‐diameter semiconducting single‐walled carbon nanotubes (s‐SWCNTs) with high purity. In the new mixed‐extractor strategy, two kinds of conjugated polymers with different rigidity, poly(9,9‐n‐dihexyl‐2,7‐fluorene‐alt‐9‐phenyl‐3,6‐carbazole) (PDFP) and poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐alt‐benzothiadiazole) (P8BT), are used to sort large‐diameter s‐SWCNTs through two simple sonication processes. To our surprise, although PDFP itself shows no selectivity toward s‐SWCNTs, it can greatly enhance the sorting yield of P8BT. Using the PDFP/P8BT mixed‐extractor method, the yield of sorted s‐SWCNTs has been enhanced by 5 times with a purity above 99 % in comparison to that using P8BT single‐extractor method. In addition, the photoluminescence (PL) excitation maps shows that the PDFP/P8BT mixed‐extractor system not only enhances the sorting yield substantially, but also tends to be enrichment of (15,4) SWCNTs with the diameter of 1.36 nm.     

Localized Gaussian type orbital-periodic boundary condition-density functional theory study of infinite-length single-walled carbon nanotubes with various tubular diameters

The detailed geometrical structures of zigzag and armchair type single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with infinite tubular length were investigated using localized Gaussian type orbital-periodic boundary condition-density functional theory (LGTO-PBC-DFT) method. The structures of (n, 0) zigzag SWCNTs were optimized for n = 5-21, (n, n) armchair SWCNTs for n = 3-12. For comparison, the optimized geometry of a two-dimensional graphite sheet was also calculated. It was found that the optimized structures of the SWCNTs showed two C-C bond lengths that decrease with an increase in the tubular diameter. More specifically, the two bond lengths converged with those found in the two-dimensional graphite sheet. We also found a degeneracy in the highest occupied crystal orbitals if identical bond lengths were employed for the zigzag SWCNTs and the two-dimensional graphite sheet. This implies that the two different bond lengths found in the zigzag SWCNTs and the two-dimensional graphite sheet are probably due to the Jahn-Teller effect. The armchair SWCNTs show two slightly different bond lengths if the diameter is less than 12 A; otherwise they are almost identical, approaching the longer bond length of the two-dimensional graphite sheet. This can be due to the fact that the armchair SWCNTs do not have degeneracy in occupied crystal orbitals for identical C-C bond lengths. The crossing point of the conducting and valence bands of each armchair SWCNT were also calculated and show a diameter dependence in which the deviation from 2pi/3a decreases as diameter increases.     

W-Fe-MgO催化分解CH4制备单壁碳纳米管

使用“柠檬酸法”制备了一系列较高比表面的W-Fe-MgO催化剂,在较易放大的流化床反应器中,1 100 ℃ H2气流中分解CH4,制得SWCNTs管束,单管直径在1～3 nm,最高碳产率36 mg/100 mg催化剂.经TEM、微区Raman、程序升温氧化(TPO)测量表明,产物中无定形碳、MWCNTs均较少,为纯度较高、缺陷较少的SWCNTs.从EDAX结果并参考W-Fe相图推测SWCNTs生长的催化剂活性相可能为W、Fe的金属间化合物或富Fe的固溶体.     

Unraveling the 13C NMR chemical shifts in single-walled carbon nanotubes: dependence on diameter and electronic structure

The atomic specificity afforded by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy could enable detailed mechanistic information about single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) functionalization as well as the noncovalent molecular interactions that dictate ground-state charge transfer and separation by electronic structure and diameter. However, to date, the polydispersity present in as-synthesized SWCNT populations has obscured the dependence of the SWCNT (13)C chemical shift on intrinsic parameters such as diameter and electronic structure, meaning that no information is gleaned for specific SWCNTs with unique chiral indices. In this article, we utilize a combination of (13)C labeling and density gradient ultracentrifugation (DGU) to produce an array of (13)C-labeled SWCNT populations with varying diameter, electronic structure, and chiral angle. We find that the SWCNT isotropic (13)C chemical shift decreases systematically with increasing diameter for semiconducting SWCNTs, in agreement with recent theoretical predictions that have heretofore gone unaddressed. Furthermore, we find that the (13)C chemical shifts for small diameter metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs differ significantly, and that the full-width of the isotropic peak for metallic SWCNTs is much larger than that of semiconducting nanotubes, irrespective of diameter.     

Supramolecular Surface Modification and Solubilization of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Cyclodextrin Complexation

A novel approach to solubilize single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the aqueous phase is described by employing supramolecular surface modification. We use cyclodextrin complexes of synthetic molecules that contain a planar pyrene moiety or a bent, shape‐fitted triptycene moiety as a binding group connected through a spacer to an adamantane moiety that is accommodated in the cyclodextrin cavity. The binding groups attach to the sidewalls of SWCNTs through a π–π stacking interaction to yield a supramolecular system that allows the SWCNTs to dissolve in the aqueous phase through the formed hydrophilic cyclodextrin shell. The black aqueous SWCNT solutions obtained are stable over a period of months. They are characterized through absorbance, static, and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy as well as Raman spectroscopy, TEM, and fluorescence‐decay measurements. Furthermore, the shape‐fitted triptycene‐based system shows a pronounced selectivity for SWCNTs with a diameter of 1.0 nm.     

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.     

Atomistic simulation of the growth of defect-free carbon nanotubes

Atomistic simulation of defect-free single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) growth is essential for the insightful understanding of the SWCNT''s growth mechanism. Despite the extensive effort paid in the past two decades, the goal has not been completely achieved, due to the huge timescale discrepancy between atomistic simulation and the experimental synthesis of SWCNTs, as well as the lack of an accurate classical potential energy surface for large scale simulation. Here, we report atomistic simulations of defect-free SWCNT growth by using a new generation of carbon–metal potential and a hybrid method, in which a basin-hopping strategy is applied to facilitate the defect healing during the simulation. The simulations reveal a narrow diameter distribution and an even chiral angle distribution of the growth of SWCNTs from liquid catalyst, which is in agreement with most known experimental observations.     

Enhanced adsorption affinity of anionic perylene-based surfactants towards smaller-diameter SWCNTs

We present evidence from multiple characterization methods, such as emission spectroscopy, zeta potential, and analytical ultracentrifugation, to shed light on the adsorption behavior of synthesized perylene surfactants on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). On comparing dispersions of smaller-diameter SWCNTs prepared by using cobalt-molybdenum catalysis (CoMoCAT) with the larger-diameter SWCNTs prepared by high-pressure carbon monoxide decomposition (HiPco), we find that the CoMoCAT-perylene surfactant dispersions are characterized by more negative zeta potentials, and higher anhydrous specific volumes (the latter determined from the sedimentation coefficients by analytical ultracentrifugation), which indicates an increased packing density of the perylene surfactants on nanotubes of smaller diameter. This conclusion is further supported by the subsequent replacement of the perylene derivatives from the nanotube sidewall by sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), which first occurs on the larger-diameter nanotubes. The enhanced adsorption affinity of the perylene surfactants towards smaller-diameter SWCNTs can be understood in terms of a change in the supramolecular arrangement of the perylene derivatives on the scaffold of the SWCNTs. These findings represent a significant step forward in understanding the noncovalent interaction of π-surfactants with carbon nanotubes, which will enable the design of novel surfactants with enhanced selectivity for certain nanotube species.     

Fermi level engineering of single-walled carbon nanotubes by AuCl3 doping

We investigated the modulation of optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by AuCl 3 doping. The van Hove singularity transitions (E 11 (S), E 22 (S), E 11 (M)) in absorption spectroscopy disappeared gradually with an increasing doping concentration and a new peak appeared at a high doping concentration. The work function was downshifted up to 0.42 eV by a strong charge transfer from the SWCNTs to AuCl 3 by a high level of p-doping. We propose that this large work function shift forces the Fermi level of the SWCNTs to be located deep in the valence band, i.e., highly degenerate, creating empty van Hove singularity states, and hence the work function shift invokes a new asymmetric transition in the absorption spectroscopy from a deeper level to newly generated empty states.