Equilibration time: Kinetics of gas adsorption on closed- and open-ended single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have explored the adsorption kinetics of argon and methane on chemically opened and on as-produced carbon nanotubes. We monitored the evolution of the adsorbate pressure after each gas dose was added to the cell during the performance of adsorption isotherms. We found significant differences between the equilibration times measured on these two groups of nanotubes. We propose an explanation for our experimental observations that makes use of recent computer simulations conducted for similar adsorbed systems.