Combinatorial design of molecular seeds for chirality-controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Joerg Tomada,Frank Hampel,Konstantin Amsharov,Roman Fasel,Thomas Dienel

doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11192-y

Abstract

The chirality-controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is a major challenge facing current nanomaterials science. The surface-assisted bottom-up fabrication from unimolecular CNT seeds (precursors), which unambiguously predefine the chirality of the tube during the growth, appears to be the most promising approach. This strategy opens a venue towards controlled synthesis of CNTs of virtually any possible chirality by applying properly designed precursor molecules. However, synthetic access to the required precursor molecules remains practically unexplored because of their complex structure. Here, we report a general strategy for the synthesis of molecular seeds for the controlled growth of SWCNTs possessing virtually any desired chirality by combinatorial multi-segmental assembly. The suggested combinatorial approach allows facile assembly of complex CNT precursors (with up to 100 carbon atoms immobilized at strictly predefined positions) just in one single step from complementary segments. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated on the synthesis of the precursor molecules for 21 different SWCNT chiralities utilizing just three relatively simple building blocks.

Highlights

The chirality-controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is a major challenge facing current nanomaterials science
The diversity in electronic properties of SWCNTs strongly depends on their chirality and can be divided into three types depending on the band structure
A breakthrough in this field was achieved by Amsharov and Fasel et al, who demonstrated the chirality-controlled synthesis of SWCNTs by epitaxial elongation of well-defined ultra-short nanotubes used as molecular seeds[35]

Summary

Introduction

The chirality-controlled synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is a major challenge facing current nanomaterials science. Among the possibility to perform several challenging steps (CNT cap synthesis, seed deposition, seed activation and CNT growth) as a one-pot process (Fig. 1), the approach opens a path towards rational synthesis of SWCNTs of desired chirality as soon as required precursor molecules become available.

Results

Conclusion