Synthesis of carbon-encapsulated nanowires using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon precursors

✍ Scribed by J.Y. Dai; J.M. Lauerhaas; A.A. Setlur; R.P.H. Chang

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 673 KB
• Volume: 258
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2614(96)00709-9

✦ Synopsis

A method using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) precursors for synthesizing carbon nanotubes filled with pure copper or germanium is reported. A model is proposed where the interaction of small copper or germanium clusters with PAH molecules is shown to form carbon-encapsulated nanowires. The validity of this model is demonstrated by showing that filled nanotubes are formed in a hydrogen arc which produces PAH molecules when graphite electrodes are used. Alternatively, we have also used pyrene (CtrHl0), a PAH molecule, to grow encapsulated nanowires directly. No filled nanotubes are found in a helium arc which does not generate PAHs.