Sensitivity of single-wall carbon nanotubes to chemical processing: an electron microscopy investigation

Single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) materials subjected to various chemical treatments including regular, published, acidic purification treatments, were investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results show that acid purification cannot avoid SWNT struc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Carbon (New York) 2001-07, Vol.39 (8), p.1251-1272
Main Authors: Monthioux, M., Smith, B.W., Burteaux, B., Claye, A., Fischer, J.E., Luzzi, D.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
A. Carbon nanotubes
B. Chemical treatment
C. Transmission electron microscopy
Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline materials
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
D. Defects, Microstructure
Exact sciences and technology
Fullerenes and related materials
diamonds, graphite
Materials science
Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization
Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals
Physics
Specific materials
Structure of solids and liquids
crystallography
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Summary:Single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) materials subjected to various chemical treatments including regular, published, acidic purification treatments, were investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Results show that acid purification cannot avoid SWNT structure alteration. The liquid, acidic medium provokes the gathering of pre-existing fullerenes into crystallised fullerite. A slight temperature increase has a dramatic effect on SWNT degradation which can result in complete amorphisation. Immersion of some of the SWNT materials in dimethylformamide (DMF) was also found to be harmful to the SWNT structure. Several observations suggest that as-prepared (not treated) SWNTs contain structural defects along the tube walls which act as preferred sites for the acid (or DMF) attack, inducing side wall openings.
ISSN:0008-6223
1873-3891
DOI:10.1016/S0008-6223(00)00249-9