Effect of Nanoscale Curvature of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Adsorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

• Published in: Nano letters 2007-03, Vol.7 (3), p.583-587
• Main Authors: Gotovac, Suzana, Honda, Hiroaki, Hattori, Yoshiyuki, Takahashi, Kunimitsu, Kanoh, Hirofumi, Kaneko, Katsumi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotubes; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; Physics; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/nl0622597

Liquid-phase adsorption of tetracene and phenanthrene on a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) was examined. Tetracene adsorption was more than six times greater than that of phenanthrene. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic examination clearly showed that tetracene and phenanthrene molecules efficiently coated the SWCNT external surfaces. The remarkable difference between the adsorption amounts of tetracene and phenanthrene was caused by the nanoscale curvature effect of the tube surface, resulting in a difference in the amount of contact between the molecule and the tube surface. The adsorption of tetracene and phenanthrene caused a significant higher frequency shift in the radial breathing mode (RBM) of the Raman band of the SWCNT, indicating an intensive π−π interaction between these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the external SWCNT surface.