Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids

Molecules assembled inside nanotubes to form 1D arrays exhibit functional properties different to the bulk crystal and have been proposed for many applications ranging from catalysis to quantum computing. We have discovered that single-walled carbon nanotubes can be efficiently filled with fullerene...

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Main Authors: Khlobystov, A, Britz, D, Wang, J, O'Neil, SA, Poliakoff, M, Briggs, G
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2004
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author Khlobystov, A
Britz, D
Wang, J
O'Neil, SA
Poliakoff, M
Briggs, G
author_facet Khlobystov, A
Britz, D
Wang, J
O'Neil, SA
Poliakoff, M
Briggs, G
author_sort Khlobystov, A
collection OXFORD
description Molecules assembled inside nanotubes to form 1D arrays exhibit functional properties different to the bulk crystal and have been proposed for many applications ranging from catalysis to quantum computing. We have discovered that single-walled carbon nanotubes can be efficiently filled with fullerenes in supercritical fluids at temperatures as low as 30-50 °C. Despite the low solubility of fullerenes in supercritical fluids, the nanotube filling was particularly effective in supercritical carbon dioxide producing C n@SWNT structures in 70% yield at 50 °C. This method was also applied for functionalized and endohedral fullerenes and allows insertion of thermally unstable molecules which would be impossible to insert in nanotubes using standard techniques. We discuss the advantages of using supercritical fluids as compared to conventional solvents and propose mechanisms for fullerene encapsulation at low temperatures.
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spelling oxford-uuid:7f0a7fd6-9c60-42c8-8023-08882116b2ea2022-03-26T21:14:12ZLow temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluidsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7f0a7fd6-9c60-42c8-8023-08882116b2eaEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2004Khlobystov, ABritz, DWang, JO'Neil, SAPoliakoff, MBriggs, GMolecules assembled inside nanotubes to form 1D arrays exhibit functional properties different to the bulk crystal and have been proposed for many applications ranging from catalysis to quantum computing. We have discovered that single-walled carbon nanotubes can be efficiently filled with fullerenes in supercritical fluids at temperatures as low as 30-50 °C. Despite the low solubility of fullerenes in supercritical fluids, the nanotube filling was particularly effective in supercritical carbon dioxide producing C n@SWNT structures in 70% yield at 50 °C. This method was also applied for functionalized and endohedral fullerenes and allows insertion of thermally unstable molecules which would be impossible to insert in nanotubes using standard techniques. We discuss the advantages of using supercritical fluids as compared to conventional solvents and propose mechanisms for fullerene encapsulation at low temperatures.
spellingShingle Khlobystov, A
Britz, D
Wang, J
O'Neil, SA
Poliakoff, M
Briggs, G
Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
title Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
title_full Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
title_fullStr Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
title_full_unstemmed Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
title_short Low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single-walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
title_sort low temperature assembly of fullerene arrays in single walled carbon nanotubes using supercritical fluids
work_keys_str_mv AT khlobystova lowtemperatureassemblyoffullerenearraysinsinglewalledcarbonnanotubesusingsupercriticalfluids
AT britzd lowtemperatureassemblyoffullerenearraysinsinglewalledcarbonnanotubesusingsupercriticalfluids
AT wangj lowtemperatureassemblyoffullerenearraysinsinglewalledcarbonnanotubesusingsupercriticalfluids
AT oneilsa lowtemperatureassemblyoffullerenearraysinsinglewalledcarbonnanotubesusingsupercriticalfluids
AT poliakoffm lowtemperatureassemblyoffullerenearraysinsinglewalledcarbonnanotubesusingsupercriticalfluids
AT briggsg lowtemperatureassemblyoffullerenearraysinsinglewalledcarbonnanotubesusingsupercriticalfluids