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Pulsed KrF-laser synthesis of single-wall-carbon-nanotubes: effects of catalyst content and furnace temperature on their nanostructure and photoluminescence properties

  • Special Issue: Nanostructured Materials 2010
  • Published:
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Abstract

In this article, we report on the use of a pulsed KrF-laser (248 nm, 20 ns) for the synthesis of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) from the ablation of a graphite target loaded with Co/Ni catalyst, under various growth conditions. By varying the Co/Ni catalyst load of the graphite target, from 0 to 2.4 at.%, the laser synthesized SWCNTs, under a furnace temperature (T f) of 1,100 °C, were found to be decorated by C60 buckyballs, of which the density decreases as the catalyst content is increased. The effect of the catalyst content of the laser-ablated graphite target on the produced carbon nanostructures (C60 vs. SWCNTs) was systematically investigated by means of various characterization techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and SEM/HR-TEM microscopies. A [Co/Ni] ≥ 1.2 at.% was identified as the optimal concentration for the production of SWCNTs without any detectable presence of C60 buckyballs. Thus, under the optimal growth conditions (i.e., [Co/Ni] = 1.2 at.% and T f = 1,100 °C), the produced SWCNTs were found to be characterized by a very narrow diameter distribution (centered on 1.2 nm) with lengths in excess of 10 μm. By increasing T f from 900 to 1,150 °C, the diameter of the SWCNTs can be varied from ~0.9 to ~1.3 nm. This nanotube diameter variation was evidenced by Raman and UV–Vis absorption measurements, and its effect on the photoluminescence of the SWCNTs is presented and discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, INRS-Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, 1650 Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC, J3X 1S2, Canada

    V. Le Borgne, B. Aïssa, M. Mohamedi & M. A. El Khakani

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Shinshu University, Wakasato, Nagano-shi, 380-8553, Japan

    Yoong Ahm Kim & Morinobu Endo

Authors
  1. V. Le Borgne
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  2. B. Aïssa
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  3. M. Mohamedi
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  4. Yoong Ahm Kim
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  5. Morinobu Endo
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  6. M. A. El Khakani
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Correspondence to M. A. El Khakani.

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Le Borgne, V., Aïssa, B., Mohamedi, M. et al. Pulsed KrF-laser synthesis of single-wall-carbon-nanotubes: effects of catalyst content and furnace temperature on their nanostructure and photoluminescence properties. J Nanopart Res 13, 5759–5767 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0409-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0409-9

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