Chiral carbonaceous nanotubes prepared by carbonization of chiral organic self-assemblies

Abstract

Single-handed helical tantalum pentoxide nanotubes with inner chiral organic self-assemblies were prepared through a supramolecular templating approach. After carbonization and removal of tantalum pentoxide, single-handed twisted carbonaceous nanotubes were obtained. The handedness of the carbonaceous nanotubes followed that of the tantalum pentoxide nanotubes. The carbonaceous nanotubes were formed due to the adsorption of the organic self-assemblies on the inner surfaces of the tantalum pentoxide nanotubes and the shrinkage of organic self-assemblies during the drying process and subsequently carbonization. The X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy characterizations indicated that the carbon was amorphous. The circular dichroism spectra indicated that the twisted carbonaceous nanotubes exhibited optical activity. The elemental analysis showed that these carbonaceous nanotubes were N-doped. These N-doped carbonaceous materials might find applications as catalysts and chirality sensors.