Spectroscopic Study of Nitrogen Doping of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Combined spatially resolved electron-energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and high resolution near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy have been used to investigate the nitrogen doping of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (N-MWNT). EELS indicates that most of the tubes are nitrogen-doped. NEXAFS spectroscopy reveals pyridine-like and nitrile N structures. High resolution NEXAFS experiments show that the main nitrogen concentration originates from a high amount of molecular N2 encapsulated into only a small quantity of tubes.