Systematic study on the influence of chemical reactions towards understanding root growth of single wall carbon nanotubes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Pichler
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2007 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 32521936

• Final Report Year: 2010

Final Report Abstract

Overall the project can be deamed a success. A lot of publications were produced and much was learnt. The data showed clearly that only very small quantities of oxygen, hydrogen or water vapour are required to make significant improvements to the synthesis of CNT. Unfortunately we were not able to quantify this accurately at the low levels involved. A much better comprehension of the growth mechansism of CNT, in laser evaporation, CVD and hybrid CVD/laser evaporation was obtained. The role of oxides was highlighted clearly shoing sp2 carbon can form on them. Their role has not been fully elucidated, but it has provided a solid basis to continue investigated the graphitisation potential of oxides for graphene formation.

Publications

• (2007), 'On the graphitization nature of oxides for the formation of carbon nanostructures', Chem. Mater. 19(17), 4105--4107
  Ruemmeli, M. H.; Kramberger, C.; Grueneis, A.; Ayala, P.; Gemming, T.; Buechner, B. & Pichler, T.
  
• (2008), 'On the formation of single-walled carbon nanotubes in pulsed-laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition', Chem. Mater. 20(1), 128--134
  Loeffler, M.; Ruemmeli, M. H.; Kramberger, C.; Borowiak-Palen, E.; Klingeler, R.; Gemming, T.; Buechner, B. & Pichler, T.
  
• (2010), 'Combined experimental and ab initio study of the electronic structure of narrowdiameter single-wall carbon nanotubes with predominant (6,4),(6,5) chirality', Physical Review B 82(12), 125444
  De Blauwe, K.; Mowbray, D. J.; Miyata, Y.; Ayala, P.; Shiozawa, H.; Rubio, A.; Hoffmann, P.; Kataura, H. & Pichler, T.
  
• (2010), 'Exchange interactions of spin-active metallofullerenes in solid-state carbon networks', Physical Review B 81(7), 075424
  Zaka, M.; Warner, J. H.; Ito, Y.; Morton, J. J. L.; Rummeli, M. H.; Pichler, T.; Ardavan, A.; Shinohara, H. & Briggs, G. A. D.
  
• (2010), 'The doping of carbon nanotubes with nitrogen and their potential applications', Carbon 48(3), 575--586
  Ayala, P.; Arenal, R.; Rummeli, M.; Rubio, A. & Pichler, T.
  
• (2010), 'The physical and chemical properties of heteronanotubes', Reviews of Modern Physics 82(2), 1843--1885
  Ayala, P.; Arenal, R.; Loiseau, A.; Rubio, A. & Pichler, T.