2013 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
グラフェンナノリボンを原料としたカーボンナノチューブの構造選択的合成
Project/Area Number |
13J09322
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Research Institution | Nagoya University |
Principal Investigator |
リム ホンエン 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 特別研究員(DC2)
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Keywords | グラフェンナノリボン / カーボンナノチューブ / 分子内包 |
Research Abstract |
In this year, efforts had been made to study the carbon nanotube (CNT) growth via both experimental and theoretical approaches. By using nano-test tube chemistry, where reaction is conducted within the interior spaceof CNT, we successfully showed that the CNTs can be fabricated through the intertwining of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), generated from perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA). The results were compared with other precursors, such as fullerenes, ferrocene, picene and pentacene, of different structural conformations in order to validate the reaction mechanism proposed. It was found that the initial structure of the precursor used does not necessarily determine the outcome of the tubes fbrmed. The identity of the newly synthesized tubes relies heavily on the intermediates generated during transition. Based on the obtained, we deduced that there are two different routes by which CNTs can be produced, namely, the fullerene-path and the GNR-path. The former leads to the formation of distorted cage structures that will subsequently grow into the tubular counterpart resembling that in the fullerene-initiated CNT synthesis. The latter, however, will join to form linear ribbon structures, which finally twist to give tube of specific kind. The route taken is not solely affectde by the precursor usede, but also, the diameter of the outer tube templates. A good combination of the right precursor with suitable tube is therefore needed for such synthesis. At the meanwhile, molecular dynamic simulation was also performed to visualize the reaction occurred. The simulation result confirmed well with that of the experimental observations, providing a solid support to our idea on the twisting of ribbons into tubes. Binding energies of the PTCDA-CNT heterostructures calculated reveals that the PTCDA molecules can be aligned in a single or bilateral stacked structures in the inner space of the CNT used.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The key to the accomplishment lies in the close collaboration among groups with different areas of expertise. Such corporation allows intimate technical and knowledge sharing from time to time, leading to productive environment with fruitful discussions, which have very much acceleratde the progress of this research.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In order to further understand the phenomenon observed and thereby gaining control over tube selectivity, it is crucial to learn especially about the intermediates formed, in this case, the graphene nanoribbons (GNR). The study on the side edges, ribbon width and length might probably give a hint to the insight of this peculiar synthesis. Besides, this GNR itself is a novel material with fascinating electronic and optical properties, which ara highly desired. In the following year, focus will be given to the characterization of this flimay ribbon structures by using transmission electron microscopy observation and optical measurements.
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Research Products
(7 results)