Controlling the Structure of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Fragments by Organic Synthesis

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C10.0090

Key words (English)

Carbon Nanotubes Organic Synthesis [2+2+2] Cycloadditon

Research programs (English)

COST-Action MP0901 - Designing novel materials for nanodevices: From Theory to Practise (NanoTP)

Short description (English)

The preparation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with controlled structure (diamter, chirality, length and defects) is still one of the holy grails in CNT research. In this project we present an approach using organic synthetic methods to access CNT fragments controlling all structural parameters. With this uniform materials in hand fundamental questions in CNT science will be answered in collaboration with other members of the COST action (When is a Nanotube a Nanotube? Does size matter? The defect effect? What is the role of the CNT-metal connection in devices?).

Partners and International Organizations (English)

BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, IT, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, TR, UK

Abstract (English)

The controlled synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes is still one of the holy grails in this research area. Access to defines carbon nanotubes would offer the possibility to unleach the tremendous potential of this class of compounds. Depending on their structure, they can act as excellent conductors or semi-conductors. Additionally, the possibility to creat defined tubular objects on a nanometer scale would offer novel applications in material sciences. Within the duration of the COST-action we were able to develop a new synthetic route to substituted [8]cycloparaphenylenes. The key step is a [2+2+2] cycloaddition, which introduces the functionalities at a quite late stage of the synthesis. All the critical intermediates have been analyzed by X-ray analysis nicely demanostrating the increase of strain with every step. In collaboration with C. Ewels, Nantes, within the COST-Action NanoTP the synthsized nanorings were also computationally investigated.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C10.0090