The World’s Smallest Test Tube

29.05.2019 – FLNR Scientific Seminar, 15-30, Flerov Lab Conference Hall.

Andrei N. Khlobystov

School of Chemistry and Nanoscale & Microscale Research Centre, University of Nottingham, UK

www.nottingham.ac.uk/nanocarbon       www.nottingham.ac.uk/nmrc

Carbon nanotubes can be simply viewed as a one-dimensional form of graphitic carbon. They possess record-breaking strength, conductivity and chemical stability. Importantly, the cylindrical cavity of nanotubes with diameter ranging 1 nm to about 50 nm that depends on the method preparation, allows their use as nanoscale test tubes and nano-reactors. In the NanoCarbon Group at Nottingham we entrap and study atoms and molecules inside nanotubes, using the nanotube as a tiny vessel. In particular, this allows us to study dynamics and even chemical reactions at the atomic level triggered and controlled by heat, light or electron beam. Reactions in nanotubes often deliver products inaccessible by other means, such as nanowires, nanoribbons of graphene or unusual polymers, or enable improvements of reactions important for chemical industry, such as hydrogenation or halogenationation. Loaded with transition metal nanoclusters the nanotubes exhibit remarkable catalytic properties that can be exploited in many reactions, including electrocatalysis in fuel cells, outperforming traditional catalysts by selectivity and durability. All this becomes possible due to the principles of nanoscale confinement of atoms and molecules in carbon nanotubes.