Encapsulating C59N azafullerene derivatives inside single-wall carbon nanotubes Original Research Article

Filling of single-wall carbon nanotubes with C59N azafullerene derivatives is reported from toluene solvent at ambient temperature. The filling is characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The filling efficiency is the same as for C60 fullerenes and the tube-azafullerene interaction is similar to the tube-C60 interaction. Vacuum annealing of the encapsulated azafullerene results in the growth of inner tubes, however no spectroscopic signature of nitrogen built in the inner walls is detected.