Abstract
Crystalline fullerene C60 nanotubes were prepared simply via liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation using the mixture of C60-saturated pyridine and isopropyl alcohol. C60-saturated pyridine solution was exposed to visible light to promote the growth of fullerene C60 nanotubes. The average diameters of the fullerene particles in C60-pyridine colloid solution after irradiation were characterized by dynamic light scattering. After light irradiation, an outer separated layer of pyridine surrounds the fullerene particles because of the charge transfer complexes formation. The mean ratios of inner diameter to outer diameter of fullerene C60 nanotubes fabricated at different irradiation time and wavelength were given in this paper for the first time. On the basis of the relationship between the average diameters of the fullerene particles in C60-pyridine colloid solution and the mean ratio of inner diameter to outer diameter of FNTs fabricated after irradiation, outer separated layer of pyridine surrounding the fullerene particles was supposed to play an important role in the formation process of fullerene C60 nanotubes.
Highlights
On the basis of the relationship between the average diameters of the fullerene particles in C60-pyridine colloid solution and the mean ratio of inner diameter to outer diameter of FNTs fabricated after irradiation, outer separated layer of pyridine surrounding the fullerene particles was supposed to play an important role in the formation process of fullerene C60 nanotubes
Since the discovery of carbon nanotube (CNT), onedimensional (1D) nanometer-scale materials have been extensively studied owing to their unique structures and physical properties, which lead them to a range of potential applications in the field of nanometer-scale devices
We have found that the visible light irradiation before the mixing of C60-saturated pyridine and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) plays an important role in the formation of FNTs
Summary
Since the discovery of carbon nanotube (CNT), onedimensional (1D) nanometer-scale materials have been extensively studied owing to their unique structures and physical properties, which lead them to a range of potential applications in the field of nanometer-scale devices. Various synthesis methods have been developed for the preparation of fullerene C60 nanotubes (FNTs), such as solution evaporation [2], template technique [3], surfactant-assisted method [11], and liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation (LLIP) method [12, 13]. The formation mechanism of the FNTs during the simple and easy to operate LLIP is not clear up till now. The average diameters of the fullerene particles in C60-saturated pyridine solution would change greatly after the addition of IPA. On the basis of the relationship between the average diameters of the fullerene particles in C60-pyridine colloid solution and the mean ratios of inner diameter to outer diameter of FNTs fabricated after irradiation, a possible growth mechanism is proposed to describe the formation process of FNTs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
