(Invited) Effect of Covalent Chemistry on the Electronic Structure and Properties of the Carbon Allotropes

Abstract

We discuss advances in the covalent modification of the carbon allotropes, in particular graphene and carbon nanotubes. The main focus is on the organometallic chemistry that affords the possibility to electronically interconnect graphitic surfaces by means of covalent bonding. This mode of functionalization allows the formation of atomic scale interconnects that consist of bishexahapto-metal-bonds between benzenoid ring systems, which increases the dimensionality of the electronic structure of the materials leading to enhanced conductivity. The bis-hexahapto bond formation in single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), graphite nanoplatelets and graphene, can be readily accomplished by metal vapor synthesis (e-beam evaporation), solution and photochemical routes.

Evolution of the microstructure in titanium dioxide films during chemical vapor deposition

“…The presence of this layer was evidenced as necessary to the further growth of titanium dioxide thin film. On the other hand, in the case when substrate material do not induce formation of amorphous layer, the epitaxial growth of crystalline forms of TiO 2 can occur [26,27]. During the deposition process on the surface or in the bulk of amorphous titania, the growth of anatase crystallites takes place.…”