Alignment-retainable nitrogenation of cylindrical carbon nanotubes by thermal reaction with ammonia following UV oxidation: chemical alteration effects on electrical conductivity.

ABSTRACT

Cylindrical carbon nanotubes (CNTs) pretreated by UV irradiation were able to react with NH(3) to give nitrogen-containing CNTs without destroying their vertically aligned morphology. This process provided incorporation of nitrogen mostly at pyridinic and pyrrolic sites and promoted disordering, which was correlated with decreased electrical conductivity of CNT yarns.