Effect of acid treatment on the structure and electrical properties of nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CN x MWNTs) have been cut to an average length of ∼1 μm by room-temperature acid treatment. Imaging of the surface morphology of the CN x, MWNTs (x = 2-5%) after sonication in acid or in ethanol (as a contro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2008
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| Summary: | Nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CN x MWNTs) have been cut to an average length of ∼1 μm by room-temperature acid treatment. Imaging of the surface morphology of the CN x, MWNTs (x = 2-5%) after sonication in acid or in ethanol (as a control) allowed the relationship between surface structure and acid cutting to be characterized. The effect of the acid treatment on the electrical conductance of the CN x MWNTs was also determined. The conductance of acid-treated CN x MWNTs was found to vary significantly within the sample and to be lower than the value of 1.0 G 0 observed for as-produced CS x MWNTs. The G - V curves reported for acid-treated CN x MWNTs had an average slope of 0.19 G 0/V, which is significantly smaller than the average of 0.70 G 0/V measured for as-produced CN x MWNTs. Acid-treated CN x MWNTs exhibited a more rapid electrical breakdown with larger current steps, indicating the breakdown of several MWNT layers simultaneously. © 2008 American Chemical Society. |
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