Inner tube growth properties and electronic structure of ferrocene-filled large diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

We study the filling of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SW- CNTs) with ferrocene molecules. Using e-DIPS SWCNTs with a mean diameter of 1.7 nm, we obtain a filling factor as high as 90%. At elevated temperatures in high vacuum the filled SWCNTs are transformed to double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs). Temperature dependence of inner tube growth is investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The electronic properties of the obtained nanostructures are studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. It is found that the growth temperature is higher for larger diameter inner tubes. It is demonstrated that ferrocene filling leads to electron doping of SWCNTs.