Scott Forth
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Chemistry
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
August 9, 2001
Since their discovery in 1991, carbon nanotubes have been the focus of much research due to their unique properties. Their semiconducting ability makes them promising candidates for molecular electronics. In addition, their ability to adsorb gases makes them a lightweight material in which to store hydrogen for possible application in fuel cells. We examined the adsorption of carbon tetrafluorine in an attempt to determine if the adsorption sites could be identified. Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, theoretically proposed red-shifts in the vibrational spectra of gas-phase CF4 were studied to determine if adsorption occurs within the nanotubes, in the interstitial sites, or on the surface. In addition, the effects of etching functional groups using repeated doses of ozone were observed.