Abstract
The possibility of inserting lithium into single wall carbon nanotube
bundles during the growth process is analyzed in this work by using the
Raman technique as probe. The nanotubes were prepared by the arc
discharge method by using catalysts prepared by mixing compounds
containing lithium and as their counterpart, a similar mixture without
this alkali-metal. The two pair of samples studied in this work were
obtained with the following catalysts: (i) Li2CO3/NiO/CoO and NiO/CoO;
or (ii) LiCo0.5Ni0.5O2 and Ni/Co. Raman spectra reveal that the
tangential bands profiles of the samples prepared with the catalyst
containing lithium is considerably modified in both cases. In the case
of the carbon nanotubes obtained using the LiCo0.5Ni0.5O2 catalyst a
down shift and severe broadening are observed in addition. Comparison of
our results with those published previously for alkali-metals doped
single wall carbon nanotubes allowed to conclude that lithium
incorporation, actually, occurs during the growth process. (c) 2005
Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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