Synthesis And Characterization Of Silicon Doped Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Open Access
Author:
Slimak, John Edward
Area of Honors:
Physics
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Mauricio Terrones Maldonado, Thesis Supervisor Prof. Richard Wallace Robinett, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Carbon Nanotubes Doping Nanotubes Carbon Graphene
Abstract:
Silicon doping of carbon nanotubes produces an isovalent structure, unlike that of similar boron or nitrogen doped tubes which display p- and n- characteristics, and causes unique structural changes to the nanotubes, altering the properties of both single tubes and bulk materials. Silicon doped single-walled nanotubes were prepared by chemical vapor deposition of ethanol vapor with catalytic ferrocene and methoxytrimethylsilane dopant. The material was characterized by Raman spectroscopy to determine the success of the synthesis and also to probe the diameter of the nanotubes; the presence of subsitutional silicon atoms in the nanotube lattice create a preference for lower diameter tubes, a change that is easily observable through the radial breathing mode of the doped nanotubes.