Selective host–guest interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with functionalised fullerenes

Abstract

Exohedrally functionalised fullerenes have been inserted in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with the aid of supercritical carbon dioxide to form peapods; C(61)(COOEt)(2) are encapsulated in SWNTs in high yield, whereas C(61)(COOH)(2) aggregate via hydrogen bonding to form a supramolecular complex, which sterically hinders encapsulation and causes it to adhere to the exterior surface of the SWNTs.

Towards a fullerene-based quantum computer

“…This technology is applicable to a wide variety of fullerenes, including fullerenes with spacer groups and groups that hydrogen bonds [62,63,64]. Extending this approach, we can make novel covalently bonded structures by inserting highly reactive fullerene epoxide, C 60 O, into SWNTs using supercritical carbon dioxide and then heating the resulting peapods to form a (C 60 O) n polymer.…”

Highly Stabilized β‐Carotene in Carbon Nanotubes

“…[33] We expect that functionalized carotenoids will also be able to easily enter SWCNTs. As with functionalized fullerene peapods, [34] simple chemical transformations of the organic groups would enable us to introduce different chemical functionalities into the cavity of SWCNTs, forming functionalized carotenoid peapods.…”

Filled Carbon Nanotubes: (X@CNTs)

“…The latter is a very powerful solvent and exhibits a high penetrability in nanopores thanks to its very low viscosity and low surface tension. Although operating times as long as several days might be necessary [79], the method is to be considered as being applicable to a large range of compounds. …”

“…The first molecules ever inserted into SWCNTs were C 60 fullerenes [46,64] thereby forming the so-called nanopeapods [ Figures 5a.2(a), and Chapter 5b]. Many fullerene-related filling materials have then followed, including higher fullerenes until C 90 [95], endohedral fullerenes such as N@C 60 [78], Sc 3 N@C 80 and Er x Sc 3-x N@C 80 [96], Dy 3 N@C 80 [97], Gd@C 82 [95,98], La@C 82 and La 2 @C 82 [99], Dy@C 82 [95,100], Sm@C 82 [101,102], Sc 2 @C 84 [102], and Gd 2 @C 92 [103,104], functionalized fullerenes such as [cyclopropa-C 60 -dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (abbreviated as C 61 (COOEt) 2 @SWCNT [79]) and fullerenes grafted with a retinal chromophore [77]. Regarding the former category (i.e.…”

“…A valuable alternative is to keep operating at mild temperature conditions (50°C) but use high pressure (150 bars) to be able to replace regular solvents (water, acids, chloroform, toluene, etc.) with supercritical CO 2 [79,80]. The latter is a very powerful solvent and exhibits a high penetrability in nanopores thanks to its very low viscosity and low surface tension.…”