Challenges on the Production and Characterization of B-Doped Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

This chapter is mainly devoted to give a fundamental insight on the concepts behind the wall modification, doping, and general formation of single-walled nanotubes that involve the presence of boron as heteroatoms within the nanotube structure. Research on carbon nanotubes has matured in various fields reaching real possibilities for applications. However, in structures like substitutionally doped nanotubes, the full application potential can only be reached if bonding environments, doping levels and overall morphology can somewhat be controlled. This is not the case for boron doped single-walled carbon nanotubes and it will be taken as example of discussion throughout the following sections. The bulk and local characterization tools employed with these materials are here discussed regarding their suitability and limitations. Furthermore, focusing on applications, the theoretical approaches confirming the physical and chemical properties are objectively analyzed versus the materials available at this moment.