Novel nanoscale gas containers: encapsulation of N2 in CNx nanotubes

Abstract

Gaseous N₂ has been efficiently introduced in the hollow cavities of aligned CN_x nanotubes (15–80 nm od) by pyrolysing a jet (spray) solution of Fe(C₅H₅)₂ and PhCH₂NH₂ in an Ar atmosphere at 850 °C; the aligned material consist of large arrays (2.5 cm²) of CN_x (x < 0.05) ‘bamboo-like’ nanotubes (<100 μm in length); high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) line-scans and elemental mapping studies reveal that N gas was encapsulated within the hollow compartments of the CN_x nanotubes; these results demonstrate for the first time, that CN_x nanotubes can be used to fabricate gas storage components.