Issue 46, 2007

Single-wall carbon nanotubes and peapods investigated by EPR

Abstract

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) prepared by the “super growth” method developed recently exhibit electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals, which can be attributed to itinerant spins. EPR results indicate very low defect and catalyst concentrations in this superior material. Under these conditions EPR can be used to study details of charge transport properties over a wide temperature range, although the material is still very “heterogeneous” with respect to tube diameter and chirality. Non-resonant microwave absorption in the temperature range below 20 K is indicative for the opening of a small gap at the Fermi energy for tubes of metallic character, which is indicative for a transition into a superconducting state. Using SWNT filled partially with an endohedral spin probe like N@C60, such “peapods” can be investigated “from the inside”. Continuous-wave (cw) and pulsed EPR was used to investigate localization dynamics within the tubes or to check for interaction with itinerant electrons. Using SWNT grown by different methods, the dominant influence of tube diameter on fullerene dynamics was revealed by temperature dependent pulsed EPR experiments. These differences can be correlated with the interactions between the endohedral observer spin and spins on the SWNT.

Graphical abstract: Single-wall carbon nanotubes and peapods investigated by EPR

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
24 May 2007
Accepted
09 Jul 2007
First published
24 Jul 2007

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007,9, 6063-6072

Single-wall carbon nanotubes and peapods investigated by EPR

B. Corzilius, K.-P. Dinse and K. Hata, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2007, 9, 6063 DOI: 10.1039/B707936M

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