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Clusterization, Electrophoretic Deposition, and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Fullerene‐Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Composites
Author(s) -
Umeyama Tomokazu,
Tezuka Noriyasu,
Fujita Mitsuru,
Hayashi Shinya,
Kadota Naoki,
Matano Yoshihiro,
Imahori Hiroshi
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200702053
Subject(s) - photocurrent , carbon nanotube , electrophoretic deposition , materials science , fullerene , molecule , photoconductivity , chemical engineering , electrode , carbon fibers , nanotechnology , acetonitrile , composite number , composite material , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , chemistry , coating , engineering
We have successfully developed a new methodology for the self‐organization of C 60 molecules on the sidewall of carbon nanotubes for use in photoelectrochemical devices. Novel nanocarbon composites of fullerene (e.g., C 60 ) and highly soluble, chemically functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes (f‐SWNT) have been prepared by the rapid injection of a poor solvent (e.g., acetonitrile) into a mixed solution of C 60 and f‐SWNT in o ‐dichlorobenzene. Measurements by using scanning electron microscopy of cast samples revealed that the composites are categorized into three groups; i) f‐SWNT bundles covered with layers of C 60 molecules, ii) round, large C 60 clusters (sizes of 500–1000 nm) containing f‐SWNT, and iii) typical, round C 60 clusters (sizes of 150–250 nm). The electrophoretic deposition of the composites onto a nanostructured SnO 2 electrode yielded the hierarchical film with a gradient composition depending on the difference in the mobilities of C 60 and f‐SWNT during the electrophoretic process. The composite film exhibited an incident photon‐to‐photocurrent efficiency as high as 18 % at λ =400 nm under an applied potential of 0.05 V vs. SCE. The photocurrent generation efficiency is the highest value among carbon nanotube‐based photoelectrochemical devices in which carbon nanotubes are deposited electrophoretically, electrostatically or covalently onto semiconducting electrodes. The highly aligned structure of C 60 molecules on f‐SWNT can rationalize the efficient photocurrent generation. The results obtained here will provide valuable information on the design of carbon nanotube‐based molecular devices.