Ex-MWNTs: Graphene sheets and ribbons produced by lithium intercalation and exfoliation of carbon nanotubes

Abraham G. Cano-Márquez, Fernando J. Rodríguez-Macías, Jessica Campos-Delgado, Claudia G. Espinosa-González, Ferdinando Tristán-López, Daniel Ramírez-González, David A. Cullen, David J. Smith, Mauricio Terrones, Yadira I. Vega-Cantú

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

388 Scopus citations

Abstract

We found that multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) can be opened longitudinally by intercalation of lithium and ammonia followed by exfoliation. Intercalation of open-ended tubes and exfoliation with acid treatment and abrupt heating provided the best results. The resulting material consists of: (i) multilayered flat graphitic structures (nanoribbons), (ii) partially open MWNTs, and (iii) graphene flakes. We called the completely unwrapped nanotubes ex-MWNTs, and their large number of edge atoms makes them attractive for many applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1527-1533
Number of pages7
JournalNano Letters
Volume9
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 8 2009
Externally publishedYes

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