Insights on charge transfer doping and intrinsic phonon line shape of carbon nanotubes by simple polymer adsorption

Doping of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes via noncovalent adsorption of polyethylenimine which converts p-type semiconducting nanotubes into n-type is examined by micro-Raman studies. Distinctively different responses are observed in metallic and in semiconducting nanotubes. Very little or no changes in the radial breathing and the disorder modes are observed upon polymer adsorption on semiconducting carbon nanotubes indicating noncovalent nature of this process. Tangential G-band spectral downshift of up to approximately 10 cm(-)(1) without line broadening is observed for semiconducting tubes suggesting similar magnitude of electron transfer as commonly observed in electrochemical doping with alkali metals. Strong diameter dependence is also observed and can be explained by thermal ionization of charge carriers with activation barrier that scales as the energy gap of the semiconducting nanotubes. In contrast, metallic nanotubes exhibit very different behavior with significant line broadening of the G-band and concurrent enhancement of the disorder mode. In certain cases, initially symmetric Lorentzian line shapes of the G-band features with narrow line widths similar to semiconducting tubes are converted to a broad, asymmetric Breit-Wigner-Fano line shape. Implications on the effects of electron injection and the local chemical environment on the intrinsic line shape of isolated carbon nanotubes are discussed.     

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.     

Interaction of narrow carbon nanotubes with nitronium tetrafluoroborate salts

Density functional calculations have been performed to investigate the destruction of narrow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under the attack of nitronium tetrafluoroborate salts. The dissociation of these salts in a solvent produces nitronium and tetrafluoroborate ions which coadsorb on the external surface of the tubes. It is shown that the ions bind strongly to both metallic and semiconducting narrow nanotubes, although stronger to the metallic ones. The nitronium cations bind to the CNTs through a charge transfer mechanism, whereas the tetrafluoroborate anions remain negatively charged upon adsorption on the nanotubes. The surface of the nanotubes gets substantially deformed around the adsorption site of the nitronium ion, but it is hardly changed around the adsorption site of the tetrafluoroborate ion. These results are the theoretical basis to explain the destruction of the narrow CNTs found in the experiments and also to unravel, in agreement with the experimental interpretation, the distinct role played by the nitronium and the tetrafluoroborate ions. The tetrafluoroborate ions contribute to separate the CNTs from the bundles into individual tubes, without affecting the tubes. The nitronium ions, in contrast, modify the electronic and geometrical structures of the narrow tubes leading eventually to their destruction. The implications for the selective removal of intermediate diameter metallic CNTs found in the experiments are also discussed. The adsorption of the neutral nitrogen dioxide molecule is also studied, and the results show that the weak interactions of this molecule with both metallic and semiconducting tubes cannot be used as a model for the strong attack of the nitronium ions to the narrow tubes. The sensor effect of the nanotubes toward adsorption of nitrogen dioxide is also discussed.     

Selective polycarboxylation of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes by reductive sidewall functionalization

The efficient and controllable synthesis, the detailed characterization, and the chemical postfunctionalization of polycarboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes SWCNT(COOH)(n) are reported. This innovative covalent sidewall functionalization method is characterized by (a) the preservation of the integrity of the entire σ-framework of SWCNTs; (b) the possibility of achieving very high degrees of addition; (c) control of the functionalization degrees by the variation of the reaction conditions (reaction time, ultrasonic treatment, pressure); (d) the identification of conditions for the selective functionalization of semiconducting carbon nanotubes, leaving unfunctionalized metallic tubes behind; (e) the proof that the introduced carboxylic acid functionalities can serve as versatile anchor points for the coupling to functional molecules; and (f) the application of a subsequent thermal degradation step of the functionalized semiconducting tubes leaving behind intact metallic SWCNTs. Functional derivatives have been characterized in detail by means of Raman, UV-vis/nIR, IR, and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as by thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and zeta-potential measurements.     

Band‐Gap Opening in Metallic Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Encapsulation of an Organic Salt

The encapsulation of viologen derivatives into metallic single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) results in the opening of a band gap, making the SWNTs semiconducting. Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and aberration‐corrected high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy confirm the encapsulation process. Through the fabrication of field‐effect transistor devices, the change of the electronic structure of the tubes from metallic to semiconducting upon the encapsulation is confirmed. The opening of a gap in the band structure of the tubes was not detected in supramolecular controls.     

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.     

Preferred functionalization of metallic and small-diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes by nucleophilic addition of organolithium and -magnesium compounds followed by reoxidation

Covalent sidewall addition to single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) of a series of organolithium and organomagnesium compounds (nBuLi, tBuLi, EtLi, nHexLi, nBuMgCl, tBuMgCl) followed by reoxidation is reported. The functionalized R(n)-SWNTs were characterized by Raman and NIR emission spectroscopy. The reaction of SWNTs with organolithium and magnesium compounds exhibits pronounced selectivity: in general, metallic tubes are more reactive than semiconducting ones. The reactivity of SWNTs toward the addition of organometallic compounds is inversely proportional to the diameter of the tubes. This was determined simultaneously and independently for both metallic and semiconducting SWNTs. The reactivity also depends on the steric demands of the addend. Binding of the bulky t-butyl addend is less favorable than addition of primary alkyl groups. Significantly, although tBuLi is less reactive than, for example, nBuLi, it is less selective toward the preferred reaction with metallic tubes. This unexpected behavior is explained by fast electron transfer to the metallic SWNTs having low-lying electronic states close to the Fermi level, a competitive initial process. The NIR emission of weakly functionalized semiconducting SWNTs, also reported for the first time, implies interesting applications of functionalized tubes as novel fluorescent reporter molecules.     

Raman spectroscopy of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes from various sources

Resonance Raman spectroscopy/microscopy was used to study individualized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) both in aqueous suspensions as well as after spin-coating onto Si/SiO2 surfaces. Four different SWNT materials containing nanotubes with diameters ranging from 0.7 to 1.6 nm were used. Comparison with Raman data obtained for suspensions shows that the surface does not dramatically affect the electronic properties of the deposited tubes. Raman features observed for deposited SWNTs are similar to what was measured for nanotubes directly fabricated on surfaces using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. In particular, individual semiconducting tubes could be distinguished from metallic tubes by their different G-mode line shapes. It could also be shown that the high-power, short-time sonication used to generate individualized SWNT suspensions does not induce defects in great quantities. However, (additional) defects can be generated by laser irradiation of deposited SWNTs in air, thus giving rise to an increase of the D-mode intensity for even quite low power densities (approximately 10(4) W/cm2).     

Probing chiral selective reactions using a revised Kataura plot for the interpretation of single-walled carbon nanotube spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy on surfactant-dispersed, aqueous suspensions of single-walled carbon nanotubes is used to verify the energies of interband transitions and validate the spectral assignments of semiconducting and metallic nanotubes determined by spectrofluorimetry for the former and Raman excitation profiles for the latter. The results are compiled into an experimentally based mapping of transition versus nanotube diameter to revise those previously employed using single-electron theoretical treatments. Because this mapping provides the transitions associated with a precise chiral wrapping of a particular nanotube, it allows the monitoring of reaction pathways that are selective to the nanotube chirality vector. This is demonstrated using a model electron-transfer reaction of 4-chlorobenzenediazonium shown to be selective for metallic over semiconducting carbon nanotubes via charge-transfer stabilization of complexes at the surfaces of the former.     

Effect of the electronic structure of carbon nanotubes on the selectivity of electrochemical functionalization

The functionalization of carbon nanotubes through electrochemical routes is gaining importance due to the high degree of control achievable and the ability to render the tubes with a variety of chemical and biological species. In this article, we report systematic investigations on the grafting of phenyl groups through diazonium coupling onto individual metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes both experimentally and theoretically. The results show clearly that by optimizing the electrochemical conditions it is possible to obtain a high degree of selectivity for the coupling of phenyl radicals onto metallic nanotubes. The outlined conclusions have strong implications for the design of strategies for the controlled functionalization of individual single-wall carbon nanotubes.     

Spectroscopic Characteristics of Differently Produced Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) synthesized with different methods are investigated by using multiple characterization techniques, including Raman scattering, optical absorption, and X‐ray absorption near edge structure, along with X‐ray photoemission by following the total valence bands and C 1s core‐level spectra. Four different SWNT materials (produced by arc discharge, HiPco, laser ablation, and CoMoCat methods) contain nanotubes with diameters ranging from 0.7 to 2.8 nm. The diameter distribution and the composition of metallic and semiconducting tubes of the SWNT materials are strongly affected by the synthesis method. Similar sp² hybridization of carbon in the oxygenated SWNT structure can be found, but different surface functionalities are introduced while the tubes are processed. All the SWNTs demonstrate stronger plasmon resonance excitations and lower electron binding energy than graphite and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. These SWNT materials also exhibit different valence‐band X‐ray photoemission features, which are considerably affected by the nanotube diameter distribution and metallic/semiconducting composition.     

Spectroscopic analysis of single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconjugated polymer composites

Interactions between arc discharge single-walled carbon nanotubes within polymer composites have been well documented. Here hybrid systems of the conjugated organic polymer poly(p-phenylene vinylene-co-2,5-dioctyloxy-m-phenylene vinylene) (PmPV) and HiPco SWNTs are explored using UV/vis/NIR and Raman spectroscopy at 514.5 and 632.8 nm to determine specific interactions. An examination of the radial breathing modes at 514.5 nm shows similar tube diameters of 1.28 and 1.35 nm selected for both the arc discharge and HiPco composites. The corresponding G lines of both composites show no specific type of tubes being selected. At 514.5 nm, the G line of the HiPco composite (1% mass fraction) shows contributions from semiconducing and metallic tubes, and the arc discharge composite (1% mass fraction) is dominated by semiconducting nanotubes. At 632.8 nm, the G line of the HiPco composite (1% mass fraction) is dominated by semiconducting tubes, and the arc discharge composite (1% mass fraction) shows strong contributions from metallic tubes. This finding is a strong indication that the selection process is dependent on tube diameter rather than backbone structure. The solubility limits of both composites are determined by investigating the G lines of both composites and have been found to be greater than 1% mass fraction by weight for the arc discharge composite and greater than 0.1% mass fraction by weight for the HiPco composite.     

Ultrafast energy transfer of one-dimensional excitons between carbon nanotubes: a femtosecond time-resolved luminescence study

Excitation energy transfer has long been an intriguing subject in the fields of photoscience and materials science. Along with the recent progress of photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and photosensors using nanoscale materials, excitation energy transfer between a donor and an acceptor at a short distance (≤1-10 nm) is of growing importance in both fundamental research and technological applications. This Perspective highlights our recent studies on exciton energy transfer between carbon nanotubes with interwall (surface-to-surface) distances of less than ～1 nm, which are equivalent to or shorter than the size of one-dimensional excitons in carbon nanotubes. We show exciton energy transfer in bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes with the interwall distances of ～0.34 and 0.9 nm (center-to-center distances ～1.3-1.4 and 1.9 nm). For the interwall distance of ～0.34 nm (center-to-center distance ～1.3-1.4 nm), the transfer rate per tube from a semiconducting tube to adjacent semiconducting tubes is (1.8-1.9) × 10(12) s(-1), and that to adjacent metallic tubes is 1.1 × 10(12) s(-1). For the interwall distance of ～0.9 nm (center-to-center distance ～1.9 nm), the transfer rate per tube from a semiconducting tube to adjacent semiconducting tubes is 2.7 × 10(11) s(-1). These transfer rates are much lower than those predicted by the F?rster model calculation based on a point dipole approximation, indicating the failure of the conventional F?rster model calculations. In double-walled carbon nanotubes, which are equivalent to ideal nanoscale coaxial cylinders, we show exciton energy transfer from the inner to the outer tubes. The transfer rate between the inner and the outer tubes with an interwall distance of ～0.38 nm is 6.6 × 10(12) s(-1). Our findings provide an insight into the energy transfer mechanisms of one-dimensional excitons.     

General rules for selective growth of enriched semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes with water vapor as in situ etchant

The presence of metallic nanotubes in as-grown single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is the major bottleneck for their applications in field-effect transistors. Herein, we present a method to synthesize enriched, semiconducting nanotube arrays on quartz substrate. It was discovered that introducing appropriate amounts of water could effectively remove the metallic nanotubes and significantly enhance the density of SWNT arrays. More importantly, we proposed and confirmed that the high growth selectivity originates from the etching effect of water and the difference in the chemical reactivities of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes. Three important rules were summarized for achieving a high selectivity in growing semiconducting nanotubes by systematically investigating the relationship among water concentration, carbon feeding rate, and the percentage of semiconducting nanotubes in the produced SWNT arrays. Furthermore, these three rules can be applied to the growth of random SWNT networks on silicon wafers.     

Single wall carbon nanotubes density of states: comparison of experiment and theory

We study the electronic structure of a variety of single wall carbon nanotubes and report density of states obtained with the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized gradient approximation and hybrid PBE0 approximation of density functional theory using Gaussian orbitals and periodic boundary conditions. PBE gives very good results for metallic tubes but the addition of a portion of exact exchange in the hybrid PBE0 functional worsens the agreement between experiment and theory. On the other hand, the PBE0 hybrid significantly improves the theoretical predictions (compared to PBE) for semiconducting tubes.     

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.     

Probing charge transfer between shells of double-walled carbon nanotubes sorted by outer-wall electronic type

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) with outer metallic (M) or semiconducting (S) shells were sorted by density-gradient ultracentrifugation and examined by Raman spectroscopy and in situ Raman spectroelectrochemistry. The combination of sorting and the selection of appropriate laser excitation energies allowed the disentanglement of the effects of different variations of the electronic type (M or S) of the inner and outer tubes in DWCNTs on the doping behavior and charge transfer between the inner and outer walls. Charge transfer from the outer tube to the inner tube occurs only if the electronic states of the outer tube are filled with electrons or holes, and if these filled states are higher in energy than those of the inner tube. Therefore, each combination of inner and outer tube (i.e., inner@outer: M@M, M@S, S@M, and S@S) exhibits a distinct behavior. The potential needed to observe the effects of charge transfer between the inner and outer tubes is found to increase in the following order: M@M < S@M < M@S < S@S.     

Anisotropic Photoluminescence of Poly(3-hexyl thiophene) and Their Composites with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Highly Separated in Metallic and Semiconducting Tubes

In this work, the effect of the single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as the mixtures of metallic and semiconducting tubes (M + S-SWNTs) as well as highly separated semiconducting (S-SWNTs) and metallic (M-SWNTs) tubes on the photoluminescence (PL) of poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) was reported. Two methods were used to prepare such composites, that is, the chemical interaction of the two constituents and the electrochemical polymerization of the 3-hexyl thiophene onto the rough Au supports modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The measurements of the anisotropic PL of these composites have highlighted a significant diminution of the angle of the binding of the P3HT films electrochemical synthetized onto Au electrodes covered with M + S-SWNTs. This change was attributed to metallic tubes, as was demonstrated using the anisotropic PL measurements carried out on the P3HT/M-SWNTs and P3HT/S-SWNTs composites. Small variations in the angle of the binding were reported in the case of the composites prepared by chemical interaction of the two constituents. The proposed mechanism to explain this behavior took into account the functionalization process of CNTs with P3HT. The experimental arguments of the functionalization process of CNTs with P3HT were shown by the UV-VIS-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy as well as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). A PL quenching process of P3HT induced both in the presence of S-SWNTs and M-SWNTs was reported, too. This process origins in the various de-excitation pathways which can be developed considering the energy levels diagram of the two constituents of each studied composite.     

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     

On the Energetics of Ions in Carbon and Gold Nanotubes

We investigate the insertion of halide and alkali atoms into narrow single‐walled carbon nanotubes with diameters <9 Å by density functional theory; both chiral and non‐chiral tubes are considered. The atoms are stored in the form of ions; the concomitant charge transfer affects the band structure and makes originally semiconducting tubes conducting. The electrostatic interaction between a charge and the walls of the tube is explicitly calculated. The insertion energies and the positions of the ions are determined by a competition between electrostatic energy and Pauli repulsion. For comparison, we consider ions in gold nanotubes. Alkali ions follow the same principles in gold as in carbon tubes, but chloride is specifically adsorbed inside gold tubes.