phIn-situ Cs Intercalation of CVD SWNTs
Abstract
The charge-exchange intercalation of graphite with alkali metals has been studied extensively, leading to the production of the ubiquitous Li-ion batteries. It is therefore of interest to investigate the analogous intercalation reactions in new graphitic materials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Vacuum intercalation with Cs of bundles of SWNTs was carried out and monitored phin-situ by Raman spectroscopy. This intercalation experiment used nanotube paper prepared by MOCVD containing SWNTs ranging from 0.75 nm to 1.6 nm in diameter as determined by the frequencies of their radial breathing mode peaks. The final asymmetry and downshift of the most prominent transverse mode peak suggest that this Cs intercalation did not proceed as far as previous intercalations reported by others. The most likely explanation is that the wide variation of nanotube diameters in the CVD material, as opposed to more uniform samples containing mostly 1.4 nm tubes produced by other fabrication techniques, allowed for closer packing of the SWNTs into their bundles, reducing the interstitial space available for occupation by Cs.
- Publication:
-
APS Southeastern Section Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003APS..SES.HC006H