Fluorination of single walled carbon nanotubes at low temperature: Towards the reversible fluorine storage into carbon nanotubes

Fluorination of single walled carbon nanotubes was carried out at low temperature in the -191/25 degrees C range under 1 atm pure fluorine gas. In such conditions, the resulting C-F bonding is significantly weaker than for samples fluorinated at 280 degrees C. If the fluorination is performed at low temperature, fluorine atoms can be then removed from the host structure by moderated heating until 300 degrees C or by vacuum without strong damage on the tubes. After thermal defluorination, the resulting sample can be refluorinated similarly than the pristine tubes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.