5 - Fluorination–Defluorination and Fluorine Storage Properties of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanohorns

Abstract

Fluorination is one of the most effective chemical methods to modify and control the physical and chemical properties of carbon materials, which have been applied without exception to carbon nanotubes. One of the most significant advances in the fluorine chemistry of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in recent years is finding the fluorine storage properties of the SWNTs and of single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs). As another important feature of the recent fluorine chemistry of SWNTs, it can be mentioned that understanding the versatile interaction of fluorine with curved hybrid networks of sp2-like carbon atoms has been becoming much clearer, which is closely related to the fluorine storage properties of SWNTs and SWNHs. In light of the recent developments in the studies of the fluorine chemistry of SWNTs and SWNHs, this chapter focuses on the thermal fluorination–defluorination of the SWNTs and SWNHs, and their fluorine storage properties.