Cu-phthalocyanine-mediated nanowindow production on single-wall carbon nanohorn

Abstract

We report a route for opening nanowindows on graphene wall of single wall carbon nanohorn (SWCNH) aided by copper (II) 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis (octyloxy)-29H, 31H-phthalocyanine (CuPc), which acts as a catalyst for nanowindow formation. CuPc is adsorbed on SWCNH from liquid phase and heat treated in oxygen atmosphere to produce nanowindows on the adsorption sites of CuPc. The adsorption isotherms of N₂ and Ar on the CuPc-adsorbed SWCNH heat-treated have a low pressure adsorption hysteresis. The low pressure adsorption hysteresis gap of the adsorbed amount difference between the desorption and adsorption branches reaches a maximum at 573 K for both N₂ and Ar adsorption. This marked low pressure adsorption hysteresis evidences formation of nanowindows whose size is comparable to the N₂ and Ar molecules (0.33–0.34 nm).

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• SWCNH
• nanowindows
• adsorption
• Cu-phthalocyanine
• oxidation

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (No.17H03039) and JST-OPERA programme (JPMJOP1722).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) [grant number 17H03039] and JST-OPERA programme [grant number JPMJOP1722].