Elastic distortions of carbon nanotubes induced by chiral fullerene chains

A Singular Molecule-to-Molecule Transformation on Video: The Bottom-Up Synthesis of Fullerene C60 from Truxene Derivative C60H30

Singular reaction events of small molecules and their dynamics remain a hardly understood territory in chemical sciences since spectroscopy relies on ensemble-averaged data, and microscopic scanning probe techniques show snapshots of frozen scenes. Herein, we report on continuous high-resolution transmission electron microscopic video imaging of the electron-beam-induced bottom-up synthesis of fullerene C₆₀ through cyclodehydrogenation of tailor-made truxene derivative 1 (C₆₀H₃₀), which was deposited on graphene as substrate. During the reaction, C₆₀H₃₀ transformed in a multistep process to fullerene C₆₀. Hereby, the precursor, metastable intermediates, and the product were identified by correlations with electron dose-corrected molecular simulations and single-molecule statistical analysis, which were substantiated with extensive density functional theory calculations. Our observations revealed that the initial cyclodehydrogenation pathway leads to thermodynamically favored intermediates through seemingly classical organic reaction mechanisms. However, dynamic interactions of the intermediates with the substrate render graphene as a non-innocent participant in the dehydrogenation process, which leads to a deviation from the classical reaction pathway. Our precise visual comprehension of the dynamic transformation implies that the outcome of electron-beam-initiated reactions can be controlled with careful molecular precursor design, which is important for the development and design of materials by electron beam lithography.

Non-Equilibrium Self-Assembly of Monocomponent and Multicomponent Tubular Structures in Rotating Fluids

When suspended in a denser rotating fluid, lighter particles experience a cylindrically symmetric confining potential that drives their crystallization into either monocomponent or unprecedented binary tubular packing. These assemblies form around the fluid's axis of rotation, can be dynamically interconverted (upon accelerating or decelerating the fluid), can exhibit preferred chirality, and can be made permanent by solidifying the fluid. The assembly can be extended to fluids forming multiple concentric interfaces or to systems of bubbles forming both ordered and "gradient" structures within curable polymers.

Enhancing single-wall carbon nanotube properties through controlled endohedral filling

Chemical control of the endohedral volume of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) via liquid-phase filling is established to be a facile strategy to controllably modify properties of SWCNTs in manners significant for processing and proposed applications. Encapsulation of over 20 different compounds with distinct chemical structures, functionalities, and effects is demonstrated in SWCNTs of multiple diameter ranges, with the ability to fill the endohedral volume based on the availability of the core volume and compatibility of the molecule's size with the cross-section of the nanotube's cavity. Through exclusion of ingested water and selection of the endohedral chemical environment, significant improvements to the optical properties of dispersed SWCNTs such as narrowed optical transition linewidths and enhanced fluorescence intensities are observed. Examples of tailoring modified properties towards applications or improved processing by endohedral passivation are discussed.

Effect of fullerene on the dispersibility of nanostructured lipid particles and encapsulation in sterically stabilized emulsions

We report on the effect of fullerenes (C60) on the stability of nanostructured lipid emulsions. These (oil-in-water) emulsions are essentially aqueous dispersions of lipid particles exhibiting self-assembled nanostructures at their cores. The majority of previous studies on fullerenes were focused on planar and spherical lipid bilayer systems including pure lipids and liposomes. In this work, fullerenes were interacted with a lipid that forms nanostructured dispersions of non-lamellar self-assemblies. A range of parameters including the composition of emulsions and sonication parameters were examined to determine the influence of fullerenes on in-situ and pre-stabilized lipid emulsions. We found that fullerenes mutually stabilize very low concentrations of lipid molecules, while other concentration emulsions struggle to stay stable or even to form at first instance; we provide hypotheses to support these observations. Interestingly though, we were able to encapsulate varying amounts of fullerenes in sterically stabilized emulsions. This step has a significant positive impact, as we could effectively control an inherent aggregation tendency of fullerenes in aqueous environments. These novel hybrid nanomaterials may open a range of avenues for biotechnological and biomedical applications exploiting properties of both lipid and fullerene nanostructures.

Torsional Deformations in Subnanometer MoS Interconnecting Wires

We use aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy to track the real time atomic level torsional dynamics of subnanometer wires of MoS interconnecting monolayer regions of MoS2. An in situ heating holder is used inside the transmission electron microscope to raise the temperature of the sample to 400 °C to increase crystallization rates of the wires and reduce contamination effects. Frequent rotational twisting of the MoS wire is captured, demonstrating elastic torsional deformation of the MoS wires. We show that torsional rotations of the crystal structure of the MoS wires depend upon the specific atomic structure of the anchored sections of the suspended wire and the number of unit cells that make up the wire length. Elastic torsional flexibility of the MoS wires is revealed to help their self-adapting connectivity during the structural changes. Plastic torsional deformation is also seen for MoS wires that contain defects in their crystal structure, which produce small scale rotational disorder within the wires. Upon removal of the defects, the wire returns back to pristine form. These results provide detailed insights into how the atomic structure of the anchoring site significantly influences the nanowire configurations relative to the monolayered MoS2.

Spontaneous encapsulation behavior of ionic liquid into carbon nanotube

Molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory have been performed to investigate the spontaneous encapsulation of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim][Cl]) into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). This phenomenon can be attributed to the van der Waals attractive force, hydrogen bonds and especially the π-π stacking effect. The [Bmim][Cl] molecules enter SWCNTs with larger diameters more rapidly, showing an interesting dependence on tube size. A high temperature is not beneficial to, and may even disrupt, the encapsulation of the [Bmim][Cl] molecules. It is also worth noting that the graphene nanoribbon entering the SWCNT would have an extremely different effect on this encapsulation process from when they wrap around the outer surface. Furthermore, the [Bmim][Cl] molecules can assist water transport in the SWCNT by expelling water molecules from the SWCNT. The proposed discoveries eventually provide a powerful way to fabricate nanoscale materials and devices and tune their properties.

Chiral graphene nanoribbon inside a carbon nanotube: ab initio study

The dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) is applied for investigation of structure and electronic properties of a sulfur-terminated graphene nanoribbon (S-GNR) encapsulated in a carbon nanotube. Two mechanisms of accommodation of the GNR in the carbon nanotube, distortion of the nanotube cross-section into an elliptic shape accompanied by bending of the GNR and transformation of the GNR to a helical conformation, are analyzed. Three types of elastic distortions of the nanotube and encapsulated GNR are revealed depending on the ratio of the diameter of the nanotube cavity to the GNR width. Helical states of the GNR are shown to be stabilized by the van der Waals attraction of sulfur atoms at neighbouring edges of adjacent turns of the GNR. The results of calculations are correlated with the experimental observations for the S-GNR synthesized recently inside the carbon nanotube. The hybrid DFT calculations of band structures of zigzag GNRs terminated with different atoms demonstrate that as opposed to O- and H-GNRs, the S-GNR is metallic even when deformed inside carbon nanotubes. Possible applications of GNRs encapsulated in carbon nanotubes are discussed.

Dense packings of spheres in cylinders: simulations

We study the optimal packing of hard spheres in an infinitely long cylinder, using simulated annealing, and compare our results with the analogous problem of packing disks on the unrolled surface of a cylinder. The densest structures are described and tabulated in detail up to D/d=2.873 (ratio of cylinder and sphere diameters). This extends previous computations into the range of structures which include internal spheres that are not in contact with the cylinder.

Two-dimensional coalescence dynamics of encapsulated metallofullerenes in carbon nanotubes

We report on the coalescence of a two-dimensional (2D) chain of La@C(82) metallofullerene molecules encapsulated inside a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT). 2D packing of metallofullerenes is known to adopt a zigzag arrangement and cause elliptical distortion to the cross-section of the SWNT host. We show that after coalescence of the metallofullerenes into an inner nanotube the carbon nanotube host returns to its original circular cross-section. This is due to a relaxation of the strain caused by the packing of the encapsulated La@C(82) molecules into the nanotube. We identify the formation of some novel but transient fullerene-based structures formed during the intermediate stages of coalescence of the La@C(82) into an inner nanotube. These results highlight the flexible nature of SWNTs and their ability to adapt their cross-sectional profile depending upon forces induced by material encapsulated within.

Carbon nanotubes: from nano test tube to nano-reactor

Confinement of molecules and atoms inside carbon nanotubes provides a powerful strategy for studying structures and chemical properties of individual molecules at the nanoscale. In this issue of ACS Nano, Allen et al. explore the nanotube as a template leading to the formation of unusual supramolecular and covalent structures. The potential of carbon nanotubes as reactors for synthesis on the nano- and macroscales is discussed in light of recent studies.

Helical encapsulation of graphene nanoribbon into carbon nanotube

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to study interaction between the graphene nanoribbon (GNR) and single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT). The GNR enters the SWCNT spontaneously to display a helical configuration which is quite similar to the chloroplast in the spirogyra cell. This unique phenomenon results from the combined action of the van der Waals potential well and the π-π stacking interaction. The size of SWCNT and GNR should satisfy some certain conditions in the helical encapsulation process. A DNA-like double helix would be formed inside the SWCNT with the encapsulation of two GNRs. A water cluster enclosed in the SWCNT has great effect on the formation of the GNR helix in the tube. Furthermore, we also studied the possibility that the spontaneous encapsulation of GNR is used for substance delivery. The expected outcome of these properties is to provide novel strategies to design nanoscale carriers and reaction devices.