Interactions of single wall carbon nanotubes with methyl viologen radicals. Quantitative estimation of stored electrons

Kongkanand, A. and Kamat, P.V.

J. Phys. Chem. C 111(26), 9012-9015 (2007)

NDRL 4722

The electron storage and discharge properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are probed by their interaction with radiolytically and photolytically produced methyl viologen (MV^+•) radicals. Quantitative estimation of stored electrons amounts to one electron per ~100 carbon atoms of SWCNT. These stored electrons are readily discharged on demand by introducing an electron acceptor such as thionine (E⁰_TH/TH2- = 0.064 V vs NHE). On the basis of the charge equilibration experiments, we estimate the apparent Fermi level of SWCNT as 0.039 V versus NHE.