Title: Molecular structure reorganisation of Fe-, Co- and Ni-phthalocyanines upon milling

Authors: A. Milev, G.S.K. Kannangara, N. Tran, M. Wilson

Addresses: School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC 1797, Australia. ' School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC 1797, Australia. ' School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC 1797, Australia. ' School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC 1797, Australia

Abstract: A method for preparation of carbon nanotubes with relatively low concentration of defects requires milling and subsequent pyrolysis of metal-phthalocyanines (MPc, MC₃₂H₁₆N₈). The molecular structure rearrangements in Fe-, Ni- and Co-phthalocyanines precursors upon milling in argon for 100 h have been investigated using short–range spectroscopic methods. Carbon K-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra, acquired in bulk sensitive fluorescence-yield mode, show that packing order of the metal phthalocyanines has changed during the milling. The new packing shows similar order for the pyrrole subunits of the phthalocyanine macromolecule but less for the phenyl subunits. The increased energy potential due to loose packing of the milled phthalocyanines can explain the observed substantial reduction in the vaporisation temperature of the milled phthalocyanines.

Keywords: carbon nanotube synthesis; iron-phthalocyanine; milling; NEXAFS; carbon nanotubes; nanotechnology; molecular structure; pyrolysis; metal phthalocyanines.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2007.014748

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2007 Vol.4 No.5, pp.516 - 522

Published online: 06 Aug 2007 *

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