title: Unzipping of functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes induced by STM.
abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), functionalized by a cycloaddition reaction, were studied by ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The STM images provided evidence for partial or total unzipping of the outer CNT layer. The formation of graphene ribbons was triggered by the STM tip, under specific operating conditions. A model for the unzipping is proposed, based on the perturbation of the pi-conjugation along the CNT surface induced by the cycloaddition reaction.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Polymers and Composites/I3N, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal. mcpaiva@dep.uminho.pt
authors.forename: M Conceição
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: M Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Proença
authors.forename: Rui M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Novais
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laegsgaard
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Besenbacher
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000379:methods*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon