Conducting linear chains of sulphur inside carbon nanotubes

Toshihiko Fujimori (), Aarón Morelos-Gómez, Zhen Zhu, Hiroyuki Muramatsu, Ryusuke Futamura, Koki Urita, Mauricio Terrones, Takuya Hayashi, Morinobu Endo, Sang Young Hong, Young Chul Choi, David Tománek and Katsumi Kaneko
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Toshihiko Fujimori: Research Center for Exotic Nanocarbons (JST), Shinshu University
Aarón Morelos-Gómez: Institute of Carbon Science and Technology, Shinshu University
Zhen Zhu: Michigan State University
Hiroyuki Muramatsu: Nagaoka University of Technology
Ryusuke Futamura: Research Center for Exotic Nanocarbons (JST), Shinshu University
Koki Urita: Faculty of Engineering, Nagasaki University
Mauricio Terrones: Research Center for Exotic Nanocarbons (JST), Shinshu University
Takuya Hayashi: Faculty of Engineering, Shinshu University
Morinobu Endo: Research Center for Exotic Nanocarbons (JST), Shinshu University
Sang Young Hong: CNT Team, Hanwha Chemical Corporation
Young Chul Choi: CNT Team, Hanwha Chemical Corporation
David Tománek: Michigan State University
Katsumi Kaneko: Research Center for Exotic Nanocarbons (JST), Shinshu University

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Despite extensive research for more than 200 years, the experimental isolation of monatomic sulphur chains, which are believed to exhibit a conducting character, has eluded scientists. Here we report the synthesis of a previously unobserved composite material of elemental sulphur, consisting of monatomic chains stabilized in the constraining volume of a carbon nanotube. This one-dimensional phase is confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, these one-dimensional sulphur chains exhibit long domain sizes of up to 160 nm and high thermal stability (~800 K). Synchrotron X-ray diffraction shows a sharp structural transition of the one-dimensional sulphur occurring at ~450–650 K. Our observations, and corresponding electronic structure and quantum transport calculations, indicate the conducting character of the one-dimensional sulphur chains under ambient pressure. This is in stark contrast to bulk sulphur that needs ultrahigh pressures exceeding ~90 GPa to become metallic.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3162

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