Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes: Growth, Mechanism and Structure

• Published in: Chemphyschem 2011-11, Vol.12 (16), p.2995-3001
• Main Authors: O'Byrne, Justin P., Li, Zhonglai, Jones, Sarah L. T., Fleming, Peter G., Larsson, J. Andreas, Morris, Michael A., Holmes, Justin D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; catalysts; Chemistry; density functional theory; doping; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; nanotubes; nitrogen; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 1439-4235; 1439-7641; 1439-7641
• DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201100454

Nitrogen‐doped bamboo‐structured carbon nanotubes have been successfully grown using a series of cobalt/molybdenum catalysts. The morphology and structure of the nanotubes were analysed by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The level of nitrogen doping, as determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, was found to range between 0.5 to 2.5 at. %. The growth of bamboo‐structured nanotubes in the presence of nitrogen, in preference to single‐walled and multi‐walled nanotubes, was due to the greater binding energy of nitrogen for cobalt in the catalyst compared to the binding strength of carbon to cobalt, as determined by density functional theory. Bamboo nanostructures: Nitrogen‐doped bamboo‐structured carbon nanotubes are successfully grown using a series of cobalt/molybdenum catalysts (see picture). The growth of bamboo‐structured nanotubes in the presence of nitrogen, in preference to single‐walled and multi‐walled nanotubes, is due to the greater binding energy of nitrogen for cobalt in the catalyst compared to the binding strength of carbon to cobalt, as determined by density functional theory.