Electric field induced transformation of carbon nanotube to graphene\ud nanoribbons using Nafion as a solid polymer electrolyte

摘要

We report a remarkable transformation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs, average\uddiameter 40 nm) to graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) in response to a field gradient of 25 V/cm, in\uda sandwich configuration using a solid state proton conducting polymer electrolyte like a thin\udperfluorosulphonated membrane, Nafion. In response to the application of a constant voltage for\uda sustained period of about 24 h at both room temperature and elevated temperatures, an\udinteresting transformation of MWCNTs to GNRs has been observed with reasonable yield. GNRs\udprepared by this way are believed to be better for energy storage applications due to their\udenhanced surface area with more active smooth edge planes. Moreover, possible morphological\udchanges in CNTs under electric field can impact on the performance and long term stability of\uddevices that use CNTs in their electronic circuitry