Investigation of physicochemical and electrochemical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes modified with nitrogen

Abstract

Composites of the type “nitrogen-containing carbon coating – single-walled carbon nanotubes” were obtained by the treatment of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in a gaseous 40%NH3-1%C2H2-C2H4 mixture at temperatures 600–750 °C. Single-walled carbon nanotubes etched in aqua regia (SWCNTet) and doped with nitrogen (N-SWCNT) were studied by XPS, electron microscopy and IR spectroscopy. Various oxygen-containing functional groups were found to reside on the surface of initial SWCNTet. Upon treatment of SWCNTet in 40%NH3-1%С2Н2-C2H4, polymerization and condensation of hydrocarbons resulted in the formation of a thin nitrogen-containing carbon coating. Specific capacitance per a weight of initial and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes in an aqueous electrolyte with 1 M H2SO4 was measured. Specific capacitance of carbon electrodes was found to change symbately with the content of nitrogen-containing functional groups on the SWCNT surface.