Fine-tuning the functional properties of carbon nanotubes via the interconversion of encapsulated molecules

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how filling single-wall carbon nanotubes with ferrocene molecules can precisely tune their electronic properties, showing a continuous amphoteric doping effect confirmed by experimental and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of fine-tuning nanotube properties through molecular encapsulation and provides direct experimental evidence of amphoteric doping.

Findings

Charge transfer occurs between ferrocene and nanotubes.

Filling induces a continuous change in electronic properties.

Density functional theory supports experimental observations.

Abstract

Tweaking the properties of carbon nanotubes is a prerequisite for their practical applications. Here we demonstrate fine-tuning the electronic properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes via filling with ferrocene molecules. The evolution of the bonding and charge transfer within the tube is demonstrated via chemical reaction of the ferrocene filler ending up as secondary inner tube. The charge transfer nature is interpreted well within density functional theory. This work gives the first direct observation of a fine-tuned continuous amphoteric doping of single-wall carbon nanotubes.