Specific features of the electronic structure of fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the near-surface region

The C 1s and F 1s X-ray photoelectron spectra of fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes with different fluorine contents have been measured using the equipment of the Russian-German beamline at the BESSY storage ring by varying the energy of exciting photons. It has been established that two fluorocarbon phases in which the chemical bonding is characterized by a different electron transfer from carbon atoms to fluorine atoms are formed in the near-surface region of nanotubes with fluorine concentrations of 10–39 wt %. The content of the dominant first phase with a large electron transfer in nanotubes remains unchanged with an increase in the probing depth. This phase is identified as a bulk phase formed as a result of the covalent attachment of fluorine atoms to graphene layers of the graphite skeleton without its destruction. The second phase with a small electron transfer is a near-surface phase, because it is predominantly located within two or three upper graphene monolayers and its contribution considerably decreases with an increase in the probing depth of fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes.     

Characterization of fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

The C 1s and F 1s x-ray absorption spectra of fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes with different fluorine contents and reference compounds (highly oriented pyrolytic graphite crystals and “white” graphite fluoride) were measured using the equipment of the Russian-German beamline at the BESSY II storage ring with a high energy resolution. The spectra obtained were analyzed with the aim of characterizing multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their products formed upon treatment of the nanotubes with fluorine at a temperature of 420°C. It was established that, within the probing depth (～15 nm) of carbon nanotubes, the process of fluorination occurs uniformly and does not depend on the fluorine concentration. The interaction of fluorine atoms with multiwalled carbon nanotubes in this case proceeds through the covalent attachment of fluorine atoms to graphene layers of the graphite skeleton and is accompanied by a change in the hybridization of the 2s and 2p valence electron states of the carbon atom from the trigonal (sp ²) to tetrahedral (sp ³) hybridization.     

Characterization of fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes with X-ray absorption,photoelectron and emission spectroscopies

The combined investigation of the chemical bond formation in fluorinated multiwalled carbon nanotubes with 15 wt.% fluorine concentrations (MWCNTs + F 15 wt.%) using X-ray absorption, emission and photoelectron spectroscopy at C 1s and F 1s thresholds is presented. All measurements were performed at BESSY II. The analysis of the soft X-ray and photoelectron spectra point to the formation of covalent chemical bonding between fluorine and carbon atoms in the fluorinated nanotubes. Based on results of this combined study the depth dependent effects are discussed.     

Prismatic modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes and their electronic properties: Regular adsorption of fluorine atoms on graphene surfaces of nanotubes

The regular adsorption of fluorine atoms on surfaces of single-walled carbon nanotubes along their axes can lead to a modification of cylindrical carbon cores of these single-walled carbon nanotubes to carbon cores that have a nearly prismatic shape (prismatic modification). In faces of these modified single-walled carbon nanotubes, there can arise quasi-one-dimensional isolated carbon conjugated subsystems (tracks) with different structures. It has been established that the main characteristics of the single-walled carbon nanotubes thus modified are rather close to the corresponding characteristics of the related isostructural polymer conjugated systems (such as cis-polyenes, polyphenylenes, poly(periacenes), or polyphenantrenes). Fragments of model nanotubes of the (n, n) and (n, 0) types that contain up to 360 carbon atoms and their derivatives doped with fluorine atoms have been calculated using the semiempirical parametric method 3.     

Anti-prismatic modifications of single-walled carbon nanotubes and their electronic properties: Regular adsorption of fluorine atoms on graphene surfaces of nanotubes

The regular adsorption of fluorine atoms on the surfaces of single-walled carbon nanotubes along their cylindrical axes leads to a modification of cylindrical carbon skeletons of these single-walled carbon nanotubes into carbon skeletons that have a nearly “anti-prismatic” shape (anti-prismatic modifications). In the faces of these modified single-walled carbon nanotubes, there can arise quasi-one-dimensional isolated carbon conjugated subsystems (tracks) with different structures. Model fragments of nanotubes of the (n, 0) type that contain up to 360 carbon atoms and their derivatives with regularly adsorbed fluorine atoms on the graphene surface have been calculated using the semiempirical PM3 method. It has been found that the main properties of the single-walled carbon nanotubes modified by the above method are determined by the character of the conjugation of the electrons in isolated carbon tracks, which is close to the character of the conjugation of the electrons in the initial single-walled carbon nanotubes.     

Chemical state of carbon atoms on the surface of nanodiamond particles

Auger electron spectroscopy study of the chemical state of carbon atoms on the surface of nanodiamond particles is performed. Auger spectra of nanodiamond particles indicate that carbon atoms in nanodiamond are in the same state as those in graphite, i.e., in the σ _s ¹ σ _p ² π¹ state, but the π band is displaced 1 eV in energy below the Fermi level. The surface of nanodiamond particles is inert with respect to the ambient medium.     

X-ray absorption investigation of the electronic structure of the CuI@SWCNT nanocomposite

The Cu 2p, I 3d, and C 1sX-ray absorption spectra of the CuI@SWCNT nanocomposite prepared by filling single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with the CuI melt by the capillary technique have been measured with a high-energy resolution using the equipment of the Russian-German beamline at the BESSY electron storage ring. In order to characterize the electronic structure of the nanocomposite and possible changes in the atomic and electronic structures of CuI and SWCNTs in the CuI@SWCNT nanocomposite, the spectra obtained have been analyzed in the framework of the quasi-molecular approach by comparing with the spectra of the pristine (CuI and SWCNT) and reference (CuO) systems. It has been revealed that the encapsulation of the CuI compound inside SWCNTs is accompanied by changes in the electronic structure of CuI and SWCNTs due to the chemical interaction between the filler and carbon nanotubes and the change in the atomic structure of CuI.     

Temperature-induced transformations in hydrogenated and fluorinated single-wall carbon nanotubes studied by Raman scattering

Raman spectra of hydrogenated and fluorinated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are measured at ambient temperature before and after heat treatment. The spectra of the as-prepared hydrogenated SWCNTs show a giant structureless band in the visible region that screens the Raman peaks related to the carbon atom vibrations. The onset of this strong band follows the excitation laser line, which is typical of hot luminescence. The intensity of the luminescence background decreases exponentially with the annealing time, while the dependence of the luminescence decay time constant on the annealing temperature is of the Arrhenius type with the activation energy E _a = 465 ± 44 meV. The luminescence background in the Raman spectra of the fluorinated SWCNTs is comparable with the Raman peak intensity and decreases exponentially with the annealing time. The dependence of the decay time constant on the temperature is again of the Arrhenius type with the activation energy E _a = 90 ± 8 meV. The appearance of hot luminescence is related to the upshift of the fundamental energy gap in functionalized SWCNTs and the structural disorder induced by random binding of hydrogen or fluorine atoms. The luminescence background disappears upon annealing in vacuum or in air after removal of hydrogen (fluorine), while the annealed samples still demonstrate large structural disorder.     

Depth distribution of the fluorine concentration during radiative carbonization of PVDF

The XPS integral intensity of the F1s line and its satellite is measured during the long-term radiative carbonization of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride). A model is proposed that describes the effect of the fluorine depth distribution on the shape and intensity of the F1s spectra. A comparison of the experimental data with the model calculations provides estimates for the concentration inhomogeneity during the radiative carbonization of PVDF, for the photoelectron escape depth, and for the probability of a single energy loss by a photoelectron in its motion towards the surface. A technique determining the fluorine concentration is presented. It is based on the occurrence of chemical shifts of the C1s line towards larger bond energies for the carbon atoms chemically bonded to one or two fluorine atoms.     

Sidewall fluorination and hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes: a density functional theory study

The fluorination and hydrogenation reactions on (6, 6) and (10, 0) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been examined via computing the reaction energy for the chemisorption. The examined nanotubes have comparable lengths and diameters, with or without Stone-Wales defects on the sidewall. The two fluorine or hydrogen atoms are anchored to the external walls of the SWCNTs. The computed chemisorption energies of these virtual reactions reveal that the fluorination and hydrogenation of the nanotubes are moderately sensitive to the nanotube chirality and the sidewall topology, and the (10, 0) SWCNT with Stone-Wales defect can be easily fluorinated and hydrogenated.      

多壁碳纳米管束储氢机理的X射线吸收谱研究

采用X射线吸收精细结构光谱探索性地研究了多壁碳纳米管束.在多壁碳纳米管束不同入射角的X射线吸收精细结构光谱中，观察到C—H σ^*共振峰强度随入射角的变化而发生变化.在常温常压下出现C—H键可能与多壁碳纳米管束中存在缺陷有关，缺陷数量越大C—H σ^*共振峰的强度越大.光谱中C—C π^*和C—C σ^*共振峰强度的变化趋势都不同于C—H σ^*共振峰，这有力地证明了在常温常压条件下氢原子是吸附在多壁碳纳米 关键词： X射线吸收精细结构光谱 碳纳米管 储氢 化学吸附     

Spectroscopic study of plasmons in ion-irradiated single-walled carbon nanotubes

The electronic structure of single-walled carbon nanotubes was experimentally investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy. A shake-up satellite structure observed near the C 1s core-level lines in the x-ray photoelectron spectra at high binding energies in the range 284–330 eV due to excitation of π and π + σ plasmons was studied. The effect of irradiation by 1-keV argon ions on the shape of the spectra was analyzed. The shape of the C 1s satellite spectra was found to be sensitive to Ar⁺ irradiation in the electron energy loss range 10–40 eV corresponding to excitation of π + σ plasmons. Auger spectroscopy revealed the presence of argon on the surface of ion-irradiated samples. The argon content increased to ～4 at. % with increasing irradiation dose. An analysis of the results obtained and their comparison with the data available in the literature led to a qualitative conclusion that the bond angles of the carbon atoms making up the walls of single-walled carbon nanotubes are distorted at sites exposed to Ar⁺ irradiation.     

Field electron emission form single-walled carbon nanotubes with deposited cesium atoms

It has been found that deposition g of cesium atoms on single-walled carbon nanotubes covered with potassium atoms not only drastically increases emission current but also considerably changes the shape of current-voltage characteristics of field electron emission, namely, the characteristics become nonlinear in Fowler-Nordheim coordinates. It has been assumed that this effect is associated with the fact that field electron emission in these layers comes from single-walled carbon nanotubes, which have p-type conductivity after potassium treatment, while deposition of cesium leads to the formation of p-n junctions near nanotube tips. Part of the applied voltage drops in p-n junction, thus causing a nonlinearity of current-voltage characteristics.     

Electron emission features of the derivatives of radiation carbonization of poly(vinylidene fluoride)

It has been studied how photoelectron and CKVV spectra of partially crystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) are modified during a long-term degradation of its surface under soft X-rays (AlK _α), which is accompanied by a flow of secondary electrons having different energies, and upon exposure to a unfocused beam of 600 eV Ar⁺ ions. In both cases, the surface layer of the sample is enriched with carbon owing to defluorination. The shape of the electron emission spectra of the carbonized layer depends on an external effect; that is, whether soft X-ray photons or ions are used for defluorination. In the case of bombardment with Ar⁺, there is clear evidence for the dominance of the sp2 bonds between carbon atoms, as can be seen from the specific shape of the C KVV band and the C1s spectrum. The most surprising result of this study is that both photons and ions produce the same depth gradient of residual fluorine at an equal fluorine concentration in the carbonized surface layer. The reason for this is not clear and needs further investigation.     

Defect electron states in carbon nanotubes and graphite from the NEXAFS spectroscopy data

Experimental results of studying the electronic structure of single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as well as graphite by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (or NEXAFS spectroscopy) are presented. The C1s absorption spectra are measured with high energy resolution using the equipment of the Russian-German beamline of the BESSY electron storage ring. Features found in absorption spectra of carbon nanotubes and graphite for the first time are interpreted in the case of carbon nanotubes as the contribution of electron states appearing due to the imperfection of their structure both under the nonequilibrium synthesis conditions and during the subsequent producing manipulations.     

Manifestation of auger processes in C1s-satellite spectra of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Using the equipment of the Russian-German beamline of the synchrotron radiation at the BESSY II electron storage ring, satellite spectra accompanying the C1s core lines in the cases of single-walled carbon nanotubes and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite have been measured with a high energy resolution. The Auger spectra corresponding to shaking of the valence system of carbon by the core vacancy have been found and investigated. The Auger spectra of the studied single-walled carbon nanotubes and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite are caused by annihilation of the excited π* electron with a hole in the π subband. It has been established that the electron states in the conduction band have 3π* (gT, K, M) symmetry; i.e., they correspond to flat 3π* subband, which is localized by 12–13 eV above the Fermi level. It has been revealed that the general regularities of the distribution of electron states in the valence system insignificantly change during its shake-up by the excited core.     

Effect of hydrogenation on the spectra of electronic and vibrational transitions in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes containing 5.4 wt% H are prepared under a hydrogen pressure of 50 kbar at the temperature T = 500°C. Analysis of the optical transmission spectra has revealed that the hydrogenation of single-walled carbon nanotubes brings about suppression of high-frequency conduction provided by free charge carriers in the nanotubes, the disappearance of interband electronic transitions, and the appearance of an absorption line at 2845 cm^?1 corresponding to stretching vibrations of the C-H bonds. The removal of hydrogen from hydrogenated single-walled carbon nanotubes owing to vacuum annealing at a temperature of 500°C is accompanied by a linear decrease in the intensity of this line as the hydrogen content in the system decreases. This phenomenon indicates that the greater part of the hydrogen atoms in single-walled carbon nanotubes are covalently bonded to the carbon atoms.     

Orientation ordering of N<Subscript>2</Subscript> molecules in vertically aligned CN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanotubes

Arrays of vertically aligned nitrogen-doped carbon (CN _x ) nanotubes have been synthesized by decomposition of aerosol mixture of acetonitrile and ferrocene at 850°C. Nitrogen concentration in the outer shells of the CN _x nanotubes was found from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data to reach ∼6%. The XPS N 1s spectra and N 1s near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra identified three chemical forms of nitrogen in the CN _x nanotube arrays: pyridine-like, graphitic, and molecular nitrogen. The π ^* resonance of molecular nitrogen showed clear polarization dependence that indicates predominant orientation of N₂ molecules along the nanotubes axis. The estimated range of the polar angle distribution of the N₂ molecules orientation in the CN _x nanotube array amounts to 15°.     

Formation mechanisms of nanocomposite layers based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and non-stoichiometric tin oxide

Nanocomposite layers based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and non-stoichiometric tin oxide (SnO _x ) have been grown by magnetron deposition and CVD methods. In the case of the CVD method, the study of the structure and phase composition of obtained nanocomposite layers has shown that a tin oxide “superlattice” is formed in the MWCNT layer volume, fixed by SnO _x islands on the MWCNT surface. During magnetron deposition, the MWCNT surface is uniformly coated with tin oxide islands, which causes a change in properties of individual nanotubes. Electrical measurements have revealed the sensitivity of nanocomposite layers to (NO₂)⁻ molecule adsorption, which is qualitatively explained by a change in the conductivity of the semiconductor fraction of p-type MWCNTs.     

Chemisorption of single fluorine atoms on the surface of zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes: A model calculation

We report a model calculation of the chemisorption energies ΔE_ads of single fluorine atoms on the outer surface of zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes (Z-SWCNTs) (p,0) with p ranging from 11 to 21. A simplified model based on an effective-mass theory is adopted to describe the electronic structure of the nanotubes. Chemisorption is treated within the Anderson–Newns approach, which takes account of Coulomb interaction between adsorbate electrons. Considering adsorption of an adatom directly on top of a surface carbon atom, we find that in the case of a fluorine atom bonded to the sidewall of the nanotubes, the absolute values of ΔE_ads are in the range for Z-SWCNTs with typical diameters of , larger |ΔE_ads| values being associated with semiconducting tubes. For the latter ones, |ΔE_ads| decreases rather significantly as the radius R of the tubes increases, tending towards the “infinite” radius graphene case, whereas for metallic tubes |ΔE_ads| slightly increases with increasing R. The localized acceptor states induced by a fluorine atom in the band gap of the semiconducting tubes are found to be responsible for such difference in the behaviour of ΔE_ads for the two above-mentioned types of tubes. The results obtained shed light on the possible mechanism of the atomic fluorine adsorption-induced hole-doping of the semiconducting tubes, which might significantly affect the transport properties of these tubes.