Supramolecular peapods

Vostrowsky, O. and Hirsch, A. (2004) Molecular peapods as supramolecular carbon allotropes. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 43, 2326-2329. 

Very interesting supramolecular structures are known as carbon peapods, and consist of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) filled with fullerenes. After their first detection via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) as a side product in the production of carbon nanotubes, different methodologies have been developed to produce such new carbon allotropes. The harsh conditions previously used (such as high temperatures, low pressures, and acidic medias) have been later overcome by mild condition experiments that exploited not completely understood mechanisms of nano-condensation and nanoextraction. ... 

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