Intercalation of WF6 in the interlayer space of multiwall carbon nanotubes—structural and morphological aspects

The reactivity of multiwall carbon nanotubes toward WF6, a strong Lewis acid, has been studied. A material of nominal composition C36WF6 has been obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Intercalation between pseudo-graphitic layers has been evidenced, leading to a staging phenomenon at the nanometer scale. A structural model is proposed and the intercalation chemistry of multiwalled carbon nanotubes is discussed.