Growth mechanism, structural regulation and functionalization of carbon-based nanotubes

The growth mechanism is a long-standing and controversial issue in the carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-related studies and has become a choke point for the development of this field. By using the in situ thermal analysis-mass spectroscopic technique, the CVD growth process of CNTs with benzene precursor has been clearly illuminated and the six-membered-ring-based growth mechanism through surface diffusion is deduced which is supported by the density functional theory calculations. Along this line, a synergism mechanism of C₅N-six-membered-ring-based growth through surface diffusion and vapor-liquid-solid growth through bulk diffusion was further inferred for the synthesis of CN_x nanotubes from pyridine precursor. Accordingly, the nitrogen contents thereof electronic properties of the CN_x nanotubes have been effectively regulated. Due to the nitrogen participation, CN_x nanotubes could be used for the facile construction of various nanocomposites which have great potential for applications in different fields such as catalysis, sensors and electronic devices.