Atomic Configuration of Nitrogen Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Having access to the chemical environment at the atomic level of a dopant in a nanostructure is crucial for the understanding of its properties. We have performed atomically-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy to detect individual nitrogen dopants in single-walled carbon nanotubes and compared with first principles calculations. We demonstrate that nitrogen doping occurs as single atoms in different bonding configurations: graphitic-like and pyrrolic-like substitutional nitrogen neighbouring local lattice distortion such as Stone-Thrower-Wales defects. The stability under the electron beam of these nanotubes has been studied in two extreme cases of nitrogen incorporation content and configuration. These findings provide key information for the applications of these nanostructures.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figure

Resonant Raman scattering in cubic and hexagonal boron nitride

We measured first- and second-order Raman scattering in cubic and hexagonal boron nitride using excitation energies in the visible and in the UV. The nonresonant first-order Raman susceptibilities for cubic and hexagonal BN are 1 and 10Å2, respectively. Raman scattering is thus very powerful in detecting the hexagonal phase in mixed thin boron nitride films. In cubic BN the constant Raman sucseptibility in the visible and the UV is due to its indirect band gap. For hexagonal BN a Raman enhancement is found at 5.4eV. It is well explained by the energy dependence of the dielectric function of hexagonal BN. The second-order spectrum of cubic boron nitride is in excellent agreement with first-principles calculations of the phonon density of states. In hexagonal BN the overbending of the LO phonon is ˜100cm-1, five times larger than in graphite

Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy Measurement of the Optical Gaps on Individual Boron Nitride Single-Walled and Multiwalled Nanotubes

Spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy experiments have been performed in an electron microscope on several individual boron nitride (BN) single-, double-, and triple-walled nanotubes, whose diameters and number of shells have been carefully measured. In the low-loss region (from 2 to 50 eV) the spectra have been analyzed within the framework of the continuum dielectric theory, leading to the conclusion of a weak influence of out-of-plane contribution to the dielectric response of the tubes. The gap has been measured to be independent of the nanotubes geometry, and close to the in-plane gap value of hexagonal BN (5.8±0.2¿¿eV)

EELS measurements in single wall Boron Nitride nanotubes

We present here the results of an electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) study in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) on boron nitride nanotubes (BN-NTs). The low and core-loss regions have been analyzed to provide by the same technique a combined information about chemical bonding in the different materials in the sample and the electronic properties of individual BN-NTs. In particular, we deduce an optical gap value of about 5.8 eV for single walled nanotubes, which is independent on diameter

Energy restriction in humans enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis-associated memory and the longevity protein α-klotho

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Systematic study of Oxygen vacancy tunable transport properties of few-layer MoO3- x enabled by vapor-based synthesis

Bulk and nanoscale molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) has shown impressive technologically relevant properties, but deeper investigation into 2D MoO3 has been prevented by the lack of reliable vapor-based synthesis and doping techniques. Herein, the successful synthesis of high-quality, few-layer MoO3 down to bilayer thickness via physical vapor deposition is reported. The electronic structure of MoO3 can be strongly modified by introducing oxygen substoichiometry (MoO3- x), which introduces gap states and increases conductivity. A dose-controlled electron irradiation technique to introduce oxygen vacancies into the few-layer MoO3 structure is presented, thereby adding n-type doping. By combining in situ transport with core-loss and monochromated low-loss scanning transmission electron microscopy–electron energy-loss spectroscopy studies, a detailed structure–property relationship is developed between Mo-oxidation state and resistance. Transport properties are reported for MoO3- x down to three layers thick, the most 2D-like MoO3- x transport hitherto reported. Combining these results with density functional theory calculations, a radiolysis-based mechanism for the irradiation-induced oxygen vacancy introduction is developed, including insights into favorable configurations of oxygen defects. These systematic studies represent an important step forward in bringing few-layer MoO3 and MoO3- x into the 2D family, as well as highlight the promise of MoO3- x as a functional, tunable electronic material

Tuning complex shapes in Pt(0) nanoparticles : from cubic dendrites to five-fold stars

A platinum star performance: Quasi-single-crystalline Pt nanoparticles with peculiar morphologies—cubic dendrites, planar tripods, and fivefold stars—were synthesized in high yield. Shape selectivity was achieved by finely tuning the growth kinetics under a dihydrogen atmosphere

Probing high pressure properties of single wall carbon nanotubes through fullerene encapsulation

The high pressure behavior of bundled 1.35±0.1nm diameter single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) filled with C70 fullerenes (usually called peapods) has been investigated by Raman spectroscopy and compared with the corresponding behavior of the nonfilled SWNT. We show experimentally that two reversible pressure-induced transitions take place in the compressed bundle SWNT. The first transition, in the 2–2.5GPa range, is in good correspondence with predictions of the thermodynamic instability of the nanotube circular cross section for the studied tube diameter. An interaction between the fullerenes and the tube walls is then observed at about 3.5GPa, which evidences a progressive deformation of the tube cross section. The second transition takes place at pressures between 10 and 30GPa, and is evidenced by two effects by a strong frequency downshift of the Raman transverse modes and the concomitant disappearance of the fullerenes Raman modes in peapods. The pressure at which the second transition takes place is strongly dependent on the nature of the pressure transmitting medium. We also report irreversible effects at high pressure as the shortening of the tubes, the formation of nanostructures and the disappearance of the C70 Raman signal in some cases. Transmission electron microscopy studies are also reported supporting these transformations

A 3D insight on the catalytic nanostructuration of few-layer graphene

The catalytic cutting of few-layer graphene is nowadays a hot topic in materials research due to its potential applications in the catalysis field and the graphene nanoribbons fabrication. We show here a 3D analysis of the nanostructuration of few-layer graphene by iron-based nanoparticles under hydrogen flow. The nanoparticles located at the edges or attached to the steps on the FLG sheets create trenches and tunnels with orientations, lengths and morphologies defined by the crystallography and the topography of the carbon substrate. The cross-sectional analysis of the 3D volumes highlights the role of the active nanoparticle identity on the trench size and shape, with emphasis on the topographical stability of the basal planes within the resulting trenches and channels, no matter the obstacle encountered. The actual study gives a deep insight on the impact of nanoparticles morphology and support topography on the 3D character of nanostructures built up by catalytic cutting