Investigation of metal-carbon tubulenes by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy

Two types of methods for creating metal-carbon tubulenes are applied: (1) dehydropolycondensation and stimulated carbonization of aromatic compounds in active media containing metal powders and metal ions; (2) dehydration, dehydropolycondensation and stimulated carbonization of polyfunctional polymer (polyvinyl alcohol) in analogous active media. The possibility of tubulene formation is determined by means of quantum chemical calculation. To study the structure of the substances formed, various experimental methods, including x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy, are used. In accordance with the experimental results, especially the x-ray photoelectron spectra, the structural features of the tubulenes obtained are determined from the chemical structures of the hydrocarbons, the functional groups of the polymer and the properties of the active media and metal dispersity. The investigation by electron microscopy confirms the formation of cylindrical carbon tubulenes containing alternate metal corpuscles in a composite inner pattern as a result of response-stimulated dehydropolycondensation and stimulated carbonization. Thus, the method applied is suitable for obtaining cylindrical carbon nanostructures containing metals.