Thinning and opening of carbon nanotubes by oxidation using carbon dioxide (original) (raw)

Nature volume 362, pages 520–522 (1993) Cite this article

Abstract

THE discovery1 and bulk synthesis2 of carbon nanotubes has stimulated great interest. It has been suggested that these structures may have useful electronic3–5 and mechanical6 properties, and these might be modified by introducing foreign materials into the nanotubes. But the tubes are invariably capped at the ends. Ajayan and lijima7 have succeeded in drawing molten material (lead or one of its compounds) into the tubes by heating them in the presence of lead and oxygen; less than 1% of the tubes in the sample studied could be filled in this way. Here we report that heating in carbon dioxide gas can result in the partial or complete destruction of the tube caps and stripping of the outer layers to produce thinner tubes. In some cases, we have thinned the extremity of tubes to a single layer. The opened tubes can be regarded as nanoscale test-tubes for adsorption of other molecules, and this controlled method of thinning may allow studies of the properties of single tubes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 52 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.83 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Iijima S. Nature 354, 56–58 (1991).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  2. Ebbesen, T. W. & Ajayan, P. M. Nature 358, 220–221 (1992).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  3. Saito, R., Fujita, M., Dresselhaus, G. & Dresselhaus, M. S. Appl. Phys. Lett. 60, 2204–2206 (1992).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  4. Mintmire, J. W., Dunlap, B. I. & White, C. T. Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 631–634 (1992).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  5. Hamada, N., Sawada, S.-I. & Oshiyama, A. Phys. Rev. Lett. 68, 1579–1582 (1992).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  6. Overney, G., Zhong, W. & Tománek, D. Z. Phys. D (in the press).
  7. Ajayan, P. M. & Iijima, S. Nature 361, 333–334 (1993).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  8. Kratschmer, W., Lamb, L. D., Fostiropolous, K. & Huffman, D. R. Nature 347, 354–358 (1990).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  9. Harris, P. J. F., Green, M. L. H. & Tsang, S. C. Faraday Trans. (in the press).
  10. Brunauer, S., Emmett, P. M. & Teller, E. J. Am. chem. Soc. 60, 309–311 (1938).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  11. Iijima, S., Ichihashi, T. & Ando, Y. Nature 356, 776–778 (1992).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  12. Iijima, S. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. (in the press).
  13. Ugarte, D. Chem. Phys. Lett. 198, 596–602 (1992).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  14. Dresselhaus, M. S. Nature 358, 195–196 (1992).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  15. Rostrup-Nielsen, J. R. Catalytic Steam Reforming in Science and Technology (eds Anderson, J. R. & Boudart, M.) 2–117 (Springer, Berlin, 1984).
    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QR, UK
    S. C. Tsang & M. L. H. Green
  2. Chemical Crystallography Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PD, UK
    P. J. F. Harris

Authors

  1. S. C. Tsang
  2. P. J. F. Harris
  3. M. L. H. Green

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsang, S., Harris, P. & Green, M. Thinning and opening of carbon nanotubes by oxidation using carbon dioxide.Nature 362, 520–522 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/362520a0

Download citation

This article is cited by