On the origin of the high capacitance of nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes in acidic and alkaline electrolytes.

The synthesis of nitrogenated carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) with up to 6.1 wt% N, via the use of pyridine as the nitrogen containing carbon precursor, can provide a facile route to significantly enhance the low intrinsic specific capacitance of carbon nanotubes. The nitrogen functionalities determine this, at least, five-fold increase of the specific capacitance.

Growth of aligned carbon nanofibres over large areas using colloidal catalysts at low temperatures.

Highly purified cobalt colloids have been employed as a catalyst to grow aligned carbon nanofibres at temperatures as low as 300 degree C by dc plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition over large areas.