Cutting single-wall carbon nanotubes through fluorination

The fluorination of purified HiPco single-wall carbon nanotubes to a stoichiometry CFx (x less than or equal to 0.2) followed by pyrolysis of the partially fluorinated nanotubes up to 1000 degreesC was found to have cut the nanotubes to a range of short lengths (average <50 nm). The pyrolysis process was monitored in-situ with TGA-FTIR. The fluorine was driven off the nanotube structure in the form of COF2 and CF4. The cut nanotubes have been characterized by Raman, ATR-IR, EDAX, and AFM measurements. Short bundles composed of strongly interacting individual nanotubes were found in the cut nanotube sample. The short lengths and specific reactivities should lead to novel applications for these nanotubes.