Fluorinated cage multiwall carbon nanoparticles

Multiwall carbon nanoparticles from the inner part of a deposit grown onto a cathode in an are-discharge condition were fluorinated at room temperatur e using volatile fluoride BrF3. The sample produced was characterized by me ans of X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) and X-ray photoelectron spect roscopy (XPS). These methods point to the presence of covalent C-F bonds in the sample with retention of the sp(2)-hybridizated carbon atoms composing the cage tubular or quasi-spherical shells. Transmission electron microsco py (TEM) indicated a decrease of cage nanoparticles in the fluorinated mate rial relative to the pristine sample that may be connected with unrolling t he nanotubes during fluorination. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.