THEORETICAL-EXAMINATION OF ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED BUCKYTUBES

If the ends or end-caps of buckytubes are converted into coronands by means of heteroatoms, and if such systems are immersed in solutions of suitable inorganic salts, the metal cations will become coordinated a nd the anions may penetrate into the tubes, leading to electrically ch arged systems. Alternatively, dipolar buckytubes may be produced by me ans of boron and nitrogen heteroatoms replacing carbon atoms at the tw o ends of capped buckytubes. Various possible uses of such charged or dipolar tubes are described.