Nitrogen-induced carbon nanobells and their properties

Polymerized nitrogen-containing carbon nanobell structures were fabricated by microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition using the mixture of source gases: methane, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The nanobells with one end sealed and another open contained a nitrogen concentration of about 1–10 at.%. A first-principles calculation was performed to understand the nitrogen effect on the formation of a bell structure. Based on the growth mechanism, a continual nanojunction formed between nanobell and nanotube. The unique structures with a weak connection between two adjacent nanobells were useful for producing short nanotubes several tens of nanometers in length and diameter. In addition, the short length and open edges at the outside surfaces of nanobells also benefited the electron field emission, energy storage, and chemical reactivity.