Encapsulating C59N azafullerene derivatives inside single-wall carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the successful encapsulation of C59N azafullerene derivatives inside single-wall carbon nanotubes using toluene, with characterization showing similar filling efficiency to C60 fullerenes and insights into tube-azafullerene interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a method for filling nanotubes with azafullerene derivatives and analyzes their interaction and effects upon annealing, expanding the understanding of fullerene-nanotube composites.

Findings

Filling achieved from toluene solvent at ambient temperature.

Filling efficiency comparable to C60 fullerenes.

Annealing induces inner tube growth without nitrogen signature.

Abstract

Filling of single-wall carbon nanotubes with C59N azafullerene derivatives is reported from toluene solvent at ambient temperature. The filling is characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The filling efficiency is the same as for C60 fullerenes and the tube-azafullerene interaction is similar to the tube-C60 interaction. Vacuum annealing of the encapsulated azafullerene results in the growth of inner tubes, however no spectroscopic signature of nitrogen built in the inner walls is detected.