Chemistry on N-doped MWNTs

FUEL 233

Mark Meier, meier@uky.edu1, Rodney Andrews, andrews@caer.uky.edu2, David Jacques, jacquesd@caer.uky.edu2, Kelby B. Cassity, kelby_cassity@yahoo.com1, and Dali Qian, qian@caer.uky.edu2. (1) Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40506-0055, (2) Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, 2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY 40511-8410
We have been investigating the chemistry of N-doped MWNTs. These nanotubes have a stacking-cup or ‘bamboo' structure rather than the classical graphite cylinder structure of SWNTs and MWNTs. In a stacking cup arrangement, the graphene planes are not parallel to the axis of structure, and accordingly the edge of the nanotube is composed of stacked graphene edges. We have developed a chemical treatment that results in the formation of pores in the sidewalls of these nanotubes. The pores are 5 – 10 nm in diameter and vary in length from 20 nm to hundreds of nm. In the latter situation, the pores run parallel to the core but within the sidewall of the nanotube. Consistent with the formation of pores, the BET surface area roughly triples relative to untreated nanotubes, and the total pore volume doubles.
 

Chemistry of Carbon Materials and Nanomaterials
8:30 AM-11:45 AM, Thursday, April 10, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 240/241, Oral

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Sci-Mix

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008