The structure of 1D and 3D CuI nanocrystals grown within 1.5-2.5 nm single wall carbon nanotubes obtained by catalyzed chemical vapor deposition

Abstract Catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) grown single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) with diameter of D m  = 1.5–2.5 nm were used as templates to host one-dimensional nanocrystals of CuI. The CuI@SWCNT nanocomposite was obtained using capillary filling of preopened SWCNTs by CuI melt at 650 °C. Nanocomposite structural studies were performed on a FEI Titan 60–300 at 80 kV. According to the model and image simulation CuI crystallizes within 1.5–2.0 nm SWCNTs in the form of one-dimensional crystals with zinc blende or rock salt type unit cell connected by [0 0 1] edges and translated along 〈1 1 0〉. Copper cations occupy tetrahedral or octahedral sites in the lattice. In SWCNTs with D m  > 2.0 nm 3DCuI@SWCNTs were generated. The crystals of copper halides exhibit acceptor behavior as supported by Raman spectroscopy.