Inorganic Materials Confined in Carbon and Boron Nitride Nanotubes

The aim of this project is to explore how properties of inorganic molecules and extended lattice materials change due to the nanoscale confinement. I shall develop methods for entrapment of small inorganic molecules and synthesise novel inorganic nanomaterials inside nanotubes. The project will be divided into two main areas:

1. Investigation of the properties and encapsulation of Indium Selenide inside carbon and boron nitride nanotubes. To invesitgate the properties of these materials Raman and IR spectroscopy would be used to probe vibrational modes, TEM to determine morphology and properties of encapsulated species and XPS and fluorescence/phosphorescence spectroscopy to better understand the bonding and structure of encapsulated species. Electrochemical measurements will then be made to determine the effect of encapsulation on the electrical properties of Indium Selenide.
2. Investigation of the properties and encapsulation of metal carbonyls inside carbon and boron nitride nanotubes. Metal carbonyls have well studied optical properties. Encapsulation inside carbon nanotubes has been shown to alter these properties, but further investigation into the effect of encapsulation by boron nitride nanotubes has not yet been extensively explored. Successful encapsulation of metal carbonyls inside boron nitride nanotubes could create new materials with enhanced photoactive properties.