Ionic liquid for in situ Vis/NIR and Raman spectroelectrochemistry: Doping of carbon nanostructures

1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (an ionic liquid) is an advantageous electrolyte for the study of charge-transfer reactions at single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and fullerene peapods (C-60@SWCNT). Compared to traditional electrolyte solutions, this medium offers a broader window of electrochemical potentials to be applied, and favorable optical properties for in situ Vis/NIR and Raman spectroelectrochemistry of nano-carbon species. The electrochemistry of both nanotubes and peapods is dominated by their capacitive double-layer charging. Vis/NIR spectroelectrochemistry confirms the charging-induced bleaching of transitions between Van Hove singularities. At high positive potentials, new optical transitions were activated in partly filled valence band. The bleaching of optical transitions is mirrored by the quenching of resonance Raman scattering in the region of tube-related modes. The Raman frequency of the tangential displacement mode of SWCNT shifts to blue upon both anodic and cathodic charging in the ionic liquid. The Raman modes of intratubular C-60 exhibit a considerable intensity increase upon anodic doping of peapods.