In situ EPR spectroelectrochemistry of single-walled carbon nanotubes and C60 fullerene peapods

The first in situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroelectrochemical study of C60 fullerene peapods (C60@SWCNT) as well as that of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in different electrolyte solutions describes the formation of spin states by charge transfer reactions. Electrochemical reduction of peapods at high negative potentials causes the production of spins at the SWCNT site, while the intratubular fullerene is unchanged.Slightly anisotropic EPR signals were detected during electrochemical reduction of single-walled carbon nanotubes and fullerene peapods in the potential region from −1.75 to −2.15 V vs. decamethylferrocene/decamethylferrocinium couple. They are centered at g = 2.0038 and exhibit a hyperfine structure indicating the presence of functional groups containing N, O, H atoms in neighborhood. They differ from the EPR signals of chemically (potassium) doped SWCNT and C60@SWCNT. As the EPR signal is influenced by the electrolyte counter ions a reaction with electrolysis products of tetraalkylammonium cations is taken into consideration. No EPR lines of fullerene anions were found in electrochemically treated peapods, but these anions are detectable, if a free C60 in solution is cathodically reduced on a SWCNT electrode.