We investigate the growth of B-doped carbon nanotubes combining experimental and theoretical techniques. Electron microscopy observations and electron diffraction patterns reveal that B doping considerably increases the length of carbon tubes and leads to a remarkable preferred zigzag chirality. These findings are corroborated by first-principles static and dynamical simulations which indicate that, in the zigzag geometry, B atoms act as a surfactant during growth, preventing tube closure. This mechanism does not extend to armchair tubes, suggesting a helicity selection during growth.
Titolo: | Boron-Mediated Growth of Long Helicity-Selected Carbon Nanotubes |
Autori: | |
Data di pubblicazione: | 1999 |
Rivista: | |
Abstract: | We investigate the growth of B-doped carbon nanotubes combining experimental and theoretical techniques. Electron microscopy observations and electron diffraction patterns reveal that B doping considerably increases the length of carbon tubes and leads to a remarkable preferred zigzag chirality. These findings are corroborated by first-principles static and dynamical simulations which indicate that, in the zigzag geometry, B atoms act as a surfactant during growth, preventing tube closure. This mechanism does not extend to armchair tubes, suggesting a helicity selection during growth. |
Handle: | http://hdl.handle.net/11368/2630934 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.5078 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in Rivista |
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