C₆₀/Collapsed Carbon Nanotube Hybrids: A Variant of Peapods

We examine a variant of so-called carbon nanotube peapods by packing C₆₀ molecules inside the open edge ducts of collapsed carbon nanotubes. C₆₀ insertion is accomplished through a facile single-step solution-based process. Theoretical modeling is used to evaluate favorable low-energy structural configurations. Overfilling of the collapsed tubes allows infiltration of C₆₀ over the full cross-section of the tubes and consequent partial or complete reinflation, yielding few-wall, large diameter cylindrical nanotubes packed with crystalline C₆₀ solid cores