C60 Nanotubes Research Articles

Xerogel synthesis from carbon materials and glue inspired by Japanese-solid-calligraphy ink

Abstract Japanese-solid-calligraphy ink is a xerogel made by mixing soot and glue followed by molding and drying. Herein, we prepare xerogels from glue and 1 or 2 carbon materials (fullerene C60, multiwalled and single-walled carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds, graphite, graphene, and carbon nanohorns) and characterize their surface morphology, indentation hardness, surface resistivity, and other physical properties. Our ecofriendly and simple synthesis does not require special equipment and affords xerogels holding promise as electrode materials.

Analysis of Carbon Materials with Infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy.

Measurement of infrared spectroscopy has emerged as a significant challenge for carbon materials due to the sampling problem. To overcome this issue, in this work, we performed measurements of IR spectra for carbon materials including C60, C70, diamond powders, graphene, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using the photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) technique; for comparison, the vibrational patterns of these materials were also studied with a conventional transmission method, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy. We found that the IR photoacoustic spectroscopy (IR-PAS) scheme worked successfully for these carbon materials, offering advantages in sampling. Interestingly, the profiles of IR-PAS spectra for graphene and CNTs exhibit negative bands using carbon black as the reference; the negative spectral information may provide valuable knowledge about the storage energy, production, structure, defect, or impurity of graphene and CNTs. Thus, this approach may open a new avenue for analyzing carbon materials.

Quantitative Characterization of Oxygen-Containing Groups on the Surface of Carbon Materials: XPS and NEXAFS Study

The results of the comparative quantitative study of oxygen-containing groups adsorbed on the surface of carbonized sponge scaffold (CSS), highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), fullerite C60 and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) introduced into a high vacuum from the atmosphere without any pre-treatment of the surface are discussed. The studied materials are first tested by XRD and Raman spectroscopy, and then quantitatively characterized by XPS and NEXAFS. The research results showed the presence of carbon oxides and water-dissociation products on the surfaces of materials. It was shown that main source of oxygen content (~2%) on the surface of HOPG, MWCNTs, and C60 powder is water condensed from the atmosphere in the form of an adsorbed water molecule and hydroxyl group. On the CSS surface, oxygen atoms are present in the forms of carbon oxides (4–5%) and adsorbed water molecules and hydroxyl groups (5–6%). The high content of adsorbed water on the CSS surface is due to the strong roughness and high porosity of the surface.

Influence of fullerenes C60 and single-walled carbon nanotubes on the Carr – Helfrich effect in nematic liquid crystal

Influence of fullerenes C60 and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with concentration of 0.5 wt.% on the Carr-Helfrich electrohydrodynamic instability in nematic liquid crystal 4-methoxybenzylidene-4′-butylaniline (MBBA) is investigated. It is shown that the inclusion of these dopants into liquid crystal leads to decreasing of the threshold voltage of Williams domains formation. Critical frequency of disappearance of the EHDI decreases for the MBBA + fullerenes colloid and it increases for the MBBA + SWCNTs colloid with respect to the pure LC. A decrease of time characteristics in the MBBA + fullerenes colloid and their increase in the MBBA + SWCNTs colloid compared with the pure MBBA are observed. The experimental results are explained on the base of the Carr-Helfrich theory for electrohydrodynamic instability in nematic liquid crystal.

Tetrel Bonding Interactions Involving Carbon at Work: Recent Advances in Crystal Engineering and Catalysis

The σ- and π-hole interactions are used to define attractive forces involving elements of groups 12–18 of the periodic table acting as Lewis acids and any electron rich site (Lewis base, anion, and π-system). When the electrophilic atom belongs to group 14, the resulting interaction is termed a tetrel bond. In the first part of this feature paper, tetrel bonds formed in crystalline solids involving sp3-hybridized carbon atom are described and discussed by using selected structures retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database. The interaction is characterized by a strong directionality (close to linearity) due to the small size of the σ-hole in the C-atom opposite the covalently bonded electron withdrawing group. The second part describes the utilization of two allotropic forms of carbon (C60 and carbon nanotubes) as supramolecular catalysts based on anion–π interactions (π-hole tetrel bonding). This part emphasizes that the π-hole, which is considerably more accessible by nucleophiles than the σ-hole, can be conveniently used in supramolecular catalysis.

Synthesis of C60 Nanotube from Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste (Polypropylene) with Catalyst

Fullerene nanotube was synthesized in this research by pyrolysis of plastic waste Polypropylene (PP) at 1000 ° C for two hours in a closed reactor made from stainless steel using molybdenum oxide (MoO3) as a catalyst and nitrogen gas. The resultant carbon was purified and characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The surface characteristics of C60 nanotubes were observed with the Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The carbon is evenly spread and has the highest concentration from SEM-EDX characterization. The result of XRD and FESEM shows that C60 nanotubes are present in Nano figures, synthesized at 1000 ° C and with pyrolysis temperature 400° C. The synthesis operation doing in one reactor and limited time.

Photoluminescence changes of C70 nanotubes induced by laser irradiation**Project supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province, China (Grant Nos. 20180550100 and XLYC1807004), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51772041), the Program for Dalian Excellent Talents, China (Grant No. 2017RQ148), and the Open Project of the Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Physics and Chemistry of the

C70 nanotubes with a fcc lattice structure are polymerized through being irradiated by lasers with a wavelength of 514.5 nm at various power values. Raman spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra are employed to characterize the polymeric phases of the laser treated samples, showing that the disordered C70 oligomers are formed in the C70 nanotubes irradiated by such strong green lasers. Comparative studies further indicate that intermolecular bonds are formed between C70 molecules on the surface of nanotubes, which are similar to those formed under high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions. And the content of intermolecular bonds increases obviously with the laser power increasing.

Functionalized olympicene (C19H12) as anode material for Li-ion batteries: a DFT approach

In the current research, density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the potential application of bare and functionalized olympicene molecules (C19H12) as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. The interactions of Li and Li+ were studied with these molecules and the cell voltages were calculated. The results reveal that the cell voltage of this molecule is greater than some well-known carbon based materials such as C32, C60, C70 fullerenes and carbon nanotubes. The functionalization of C19H12 with the electron-donating groups such as OCH3, NH2, OH enhances the cell voltage. The OCH3 substituted olympicene exhibits the maximum cell voltage of 1.60 V, which is even greater than that of a (10,10) carbon nanotube.

Single and double silicon decoration of fullerene C60 and single walled carbon nanotubes for adsorption and detection of TNT

Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) appears as an important issue regarding the public safety. In this search, the sensor applications of silicon doped fullerene C60 and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were examined based on the density functional theory (DFT). Single and double silicon decoration procedures were applied to see the effect of the strength of the interaction and possible sensing capacity of the examined nano-systems. It was observed that adsorption, stability and reactivity of the examined systems strongly depend on the interaction site of TNT molecule and the positions and the numbers of doped silicon atoms on the C60 and SWCNT surface.

Application of C60, C72 and carbon nanotubes as anode for lithium-ion batteries: A DFT study

The application of C60, C72, CNT (8, 0) and CNT (10, 0) as anode materials for Lithium-ion batteries were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results show that the average values of voltage cell (Vcell) and adsorption energy (Ead) of CNT (8, 0) and CNT (10, 0) were higher than C60 and C72 ca 0.327 V and 6.52 kcal/mol, respectively. The NH2 functionalization of studied nanostructures as a strategy to improve the performance of these systems as anode materials of Lithium-ion batteries were investigated. Results show that, NH2 functionalization of studied nanostructures increase the average values of voltage cell and adsorption energy ca 0.197 V and 8.20 kcal/mol, respectively. Obtained results propose that NH2 functionalized C72 and CNT (10, 0) have larger Vcell and Ead values and therefore these nanostructures have higher potential as anode material for Lithium-ion battery.

Strong correlation effects in the (5,5)@(10,10) double-walled carbon nanotubes in the framework of the t–J model

Double-walled carbon nanotubes are coaxial nanostructures composed of exactly two single-walled carbon nanotubes, one nested in another. This unique structure offers advantages and opportunities for extending our knowledge and application of the carbon nanomaterials family. An emphasis is placed on the double wall physics that contributes to these structures' complex inter-wall coupling of electronic and optical properties. The susceptibility tensor of double-walled carbon nanotubes of the armchair type the ABAB packing of layers is investigated theoretically in the weak and strong correlation regime. We calculated the spin and charge susceptibility tensor for of the (5,5)@(10,10) double-walled carbon nanotubes using the random-phase approximation in the weak correlation regime. The relationship with the Heisenberg limit (large U/t) is discussed. Our results show that the susceptibility spectra of the (5,5)@(10,10) double-walled carbon nanotubes shift peaks to lower energies with increase in the correlation parameter of the t---J model $$(U\ge t)$$(Uźt). These results show that electronic correlation effects should be taken into account in theoretical studies of double-walled carbon nanotubes. We discuss the relevance of our results for the $$\hbox {C}_{20}$$C20 and $$\hbox {C}_{60}$$C60 fullerens and (5,5) nanotubes.

A stereogenic heteroatom-containing substituent as an inducer of chirality in the derivatives of thiophenes (mono, oligo, and poly), fullerenes C60, and multiwalled nanotubes

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Multimode Microsensors Based on Carbon Matrices for the Screening of Whole Blood for IL-6

High levels of interleukin-6 are associated with prostate cancer, breast cancer, stress, lupus, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. A fast and simple method of screening for IL-6 is needed for early diagnosis of these conditions. Therefore, multimode sensors based on cabon matrices, such as graphite, graphene, fullerene C60, and multiwall carbon nanotubes modified with maltodextrin were designed for the assay of IL-6 in whole blood samples. The best limit of determination (10fg/mL) was recorded when the microsensor based on maltodextrin immobilized in C60 fullerenes was used for the assay of IL-6 in whole blood samples. Acknowledgements The present work was supported by UEFISCDI, Romania PNII, Ideas (2011-2015), Contract-no. 123/2011.

Multimode sensors as new tools for molecular recognition of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol in children's saliva.

Increased levels of testosterone (T2 ), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2 ) in children may be responsible for their early/delayed puberty and obesity conditions. Therefore, multimode sensors based on carbon matrices, such as graphite, graphene, fullerene C60 and multiwall carbon nanotubes modified with maltodextrin, were designed to assess reliably T2 , DHT and E2 in children saliva. The modes used for the assay of hormones were stochastic mode (for qualitative and quantitative determination of hormones) and differential pulse voltammetry mode (for quantitative determination of hormones). The advantage of this type of sensors, for hormone analysis, is their possibility to reach low concentration levels- are placed for children saliva under the detection limit of standard methods (e.g. ELISA used for the determination of these hormones in saliva). This made the multimode sensors an excellent tool for clinical analysis and especially for determination of substances of clinical importance in saliva samples. The proposed method is fast and simple, and no sampling of saliva is required.

Solvent-free functionalization of fullerene C60 and pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes with aromatic amines

We employed a direct one-step solvent-free covalent functionalization of solid fullerene C60 and pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with aromatic amines 1-aminopyrene (AP), 2-aminofluorene (AF) and 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (DAN). The reactions were carried out under moderate vacuum, in a wide temperature range of 180–250°C, during relatively short time of about 2h. To confirm successful amine attachment, a large number of analytical techniques were used (depending on the nanomaterial functionalized) such as Fourier transform infrared, Raman, X-ray photoelectron, 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, temperature-programmed desorption with mass spectrometric detection, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The nucleophilic addition of the aromatic amines to C60 molecule was studied theoretically by using density functional theory (PBE GGA functional with Grimme dispersion correction in conjunction with the DNP basis set). In the case of crystalline C60, the solvent-free technique has a limited applicability due to poor diffusion of vaporous aromatic amines into the bulk. Nevertheless, the approach proposed allows for a facile preparation of aromatic amine-functionalized pristine MWCNTs without contamination with other chemical reagents, detergents and solvents, which is especially important for a vast variety of nanotube applications spanning from nanoelectronics to nanomedicine.

Influence of Physical Immobilization of dsDNA on Carbon Based Matrices of Electrochemical Sensors

The influence of addition of dsDNA on the electrocatalytic effect of carbon matrices, e.g. synthetic monocrystalline diamond, fullerenes C60 and multi-walled carbon nanotubes was studied. Three neurotransmitters: dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are known as biomarkers that play an important role in transporting and modulating nervous impulses in the synapse were chosen as model analytes. Cyclic voltammetry was used to determine the optimum working conditions with a phosphate buffer solution at a pH=4 with KNO3 as support electrolyte. Differential pulse voltammograms (DPVs) were employed to assess the electrolytic effect of dsDNA on carbon matrices under the optimized conditions, and the potential applications of the biosensors for pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. Keywords: dsDNA, sensors, carbon based matrices, neurotransmitters.

Determination of tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A in environmental water using carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes as sorbent for solid-phase extraction combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A in environmental water using carboxyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid-phase extraction sorbent and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was established. Comparison of three nanomaterials including multiwalled carbon nanotubes, C60 and carboxyl-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes used as solid-phase extraction sorbents was made. After preconcentration by solid-phase extraction, tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A were separated on a Thermo Scientific Hypersil C18 column (150 mm x 4. 6 mm, 3 μm) and then detected by tandem mass spectrometry in negative electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. The results showed a good linear response in the concentration range of 0. 02-1. 0 mg/L for tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A, and the limits of detection (S/N= 3) were 0. 04 pg/L and 0. 2 μg/L for tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A, respectively. The application of the proposed approach has been carried out for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A and bisphenol A in spiked lake water and sea water samples. The recoveries varied from 82% to 99% with the relative standard deviations below 5. 0%. The proposed method can be used for the determination of tetrabromobisphe- nol A and bisphenol A at trace level in complex environmental samples.

Green chemistry of carbon nanomaterials.

The global trend of looking for more ecologically friendly, "green" techniques manifested itself in the chemistry of carbon nanomaterials. The main principles of green chemistry emphasize how important it is to avoid the use, or at least to reduce the consumption, of organic solvents for a chemical process. And it is precisely this aspect that was systematically addressed and emphasized by our research group since the very beginning of our work on the chemistry of carbon nanomaterials in early 2000s. The present review focuses on the results obtained to date on solvent-free techniques for (mainly covalent) functionalization of fullerene C60, single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs and MWNTs, respectively), as well as nanodiamonds (NDs). We designed a series of simple and fast functionalization protocols based on thermally activated reactions with chemical compounds stable and volatile at 150-200 degrees C under reduced pressure, when not only the reactions take place at a high rate, but also excess reagents are spontaneously removed from the functionalized material, thus making its purification unnecessary. The main two classes of reagents are organic amines and thiols, including bifunctional ones, which can be used in conjunction with different forms of nanocarbons. The resulting chemical processes comprise nucleophilic addition of amines and thiols to fullerene C60 and to defect sites of pristine MWNTs, as well as direct amidation of carboxylic groups of oxidized nanotubes (mainly SWNTs) and ND. In the case of bifunctional amines and thiols, reactions of the second functional group can give rise to cross-linking effects, or be employed for further derivatization steps.

Carbon and fullerene nanomaterials in plant system.

Both the functionalized and non functionalized carbon nanomaterials influence fruit and crop production in edible plants and vegetables. The fullerene, C60 and carbon nanotubes have been shown to increase the water retaining capacity, biomass and fruit yield in plants up to ~118% which is a remarkable achievement of nanotechnology in recent years. The fullerene treated bitter melon seeds also increase the phytomedicine contents such as cucurbitacin-B (74%), lycopene (82%), charantin (20%) and insulin (91%). Since as little as 50 μg mL−1 of carbon nanotubes increase the tomato production by about 200%, they may be exploited to enhance the agriculture production in future. It has been observed that, in certain cases, non functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes are toxic to both plants and animals but the toxicity can be drastically reduced if they are functionalized.

Effects of alcohols on shape-tuning and luminescence-enhancing of C70 nanocrystals

C70 nanotubes, nanorods and nanoparticles were produced by introducing a series of alcohols as precipitant into a C70/m-xylene solution. The effects of alcohols with different carbon chain lengths on the shape control of C70 nanocrystals were investigated. Alcohols with more than two carbon atoms in the longest chain linked to the hydroxyl groups induced the formation of C70 nanotube/rods. In contrast, alcohols containing two or fewer carbon atoms resulted in C70 nanoparticles. Structural analysis indicated that alcohol molecules exist in the C70 nanocrystals, forming solvated structures. The freshly formed C70 nanotubes and nanoparticles have orthorhombic and hexagonal solvated structures, respectively. Room temperature photoluminescence was further carried out on the solvated C70 nanocrystals to investigate their optical properties. We found that the luminescence intensities of C70 nanocrystals were significantly enhanced by the introduction of alcohols.