J. Phys. Chem. C, 112 (6), 1908 -1912, 2008. 10.1021/jp076875i S1932-7447(07)06875-6
Web Release Date: January 24, 2008

Copyright © 2008 American Chemical Society

Effect of Acid Treatment on the Structure and Electrical Properties of Nitrogen-Doped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Hilary J. Burch, Elisabetta Brown, Sonia Antoranz Contera,* Nashville C. Toledo, D. C. Cox, Nicole Grobert, Ling Hao, J. F. Ryan, and Julia A. Davies

Bionanotechnology Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration, Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW, Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH, United Kingdom

Received: August 28, 2007

In Final Form: November 14, 2007

Abstract:

Nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNx MWNTs) have been cut to an average length of ~1 m by room-temperature acid treatment. Imaging of the surface morphology of the CNx MWNTs (x = 2-5%) after sonication in acid or in ethanol (as a control) allowed the relationship between surface structure and acid cutting to be characterized. The effect of the acid treatment on the electrical conductance of the CNx MWNTs was also determined. The conductance of acid-treated CNx MWNTs was found to vary significantly within the sample and to be lower than the value of 1.0 G0 observed for as-produced CNx MWNTs. The G-V curves reported for acid-treated CNx MWNTs had an average slope of 0.19 G0/V, which is significantly smaller than the average of 0.70 G0/V measured for as-produced CNx MWNTs. Acid-treated CNx MWNTs exhibited a more rapid electrical breakdown with larger current steps, indicating the breakdown of several MWNT layers simultaneously.

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