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. 2019 Dec 11;4(26):22108–22113. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03254

Carbon Isotopic Measurements of Nanotubes to Differentiate Carbon Sources

Michelle M G Chartrand †,*, Christopher T Kingston ‡, Benoit Simard §, Zoltan Mester †
PMCID: PMC6933759  PMID: 31891091

Abstract

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Stable carbon isotope (δ(13C)) analysis can provide information concerning the starting materials and the production process of a material. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are produced using a variety of starting materials, catalysts, and production methods. The use of δ(13C) as a tool to infer the nature of starting materials to gain insight into the mechanics of CNT growth was evaluated. The production process of NRC’s SWCNT-1 was traced via the δ(13C) measurement of the available starting materials, intermediate products, and the final product. As isotopic fractionation is likely negligible at high temperatures, the δ(13C) value of the starting materials was reflected in the δ(13C) value of the final CNT product. For commercially available CNTs, the estimated δ(13C) values of identified starting materials were related to the δ(13C) signatures of CNTs. Using this information and the δ(13C) values of CNTs, the nature of unknown carbon sources was inferred for some samples. The use of δ(13C) analysis may be used as a tracer to differentiate between those processes that use relatively 13C-depleted carbon source(s) such as carbon monoxide, methane, or natural gas, and those that do not.

Introduction

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a class of materials that have been extensively studied in the past 3 decades.1−6 CNTs resemble seamless rolled graphene sheets and can exist in various forms: as single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs), double-walled CNTs (DWCNTs), multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs), and few-walled CNTs. Depending on their helicity, SWCNTs can be either metallic or semiconducting, and have been incorporated into many everyday products such as batteries, sporting goods, electronics, sensors, household products, etc.3,7

As the properties of CNTs are mainly dictated by the carbon-containing starting materials, the catalysts, and the production methods and conditions, there is an endless list of methods used to manufacture CNTs. Production methods can be classified into several broad categories, including but not limited to, electric arc discharge (EAD), laser ablation (or laser vaporization), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).1−6 Further, almost any carbon-containing material can serve as a starting material for CNT production, and the choice of starting materials is somewhat dictated by the production method. For EAD or laser ablation, graphite is the most common starting material; however, studies using electric arc discharge with hydrocarbons, carbon black, coal,4 and biomaterials8 have been reported. Conversely, CVD is probably the most diverse CNT production method in terms of starting materials and catalysts, which are important parameters to control to produce large quantities of high-quality, pure CNTs. Several hydrocarbons, such as methane, ethene, acetylene, and benzene, alcohols including ethanol, and natural oils, are frequently used as starting materials with a variety of metal catalysts.1,6 Other processes including the high-pressure carbon monoxide method (HiPCO)9 and the cobalt–molybdenum-catalyst (CoMoCAT)10 process both use carbon monoxide (CO) as the starting material.

Stable carbon isotope (δ(13C)) analysis is a frequently used forensic tool for many applications, including source appropriation of pollutants, and determining the provenance of samples (food, humans, etc.).11,12 The δ(13C) value of a sample can provide information concerning the starting materials and production process used to manufacture the sample, with two main factors determining the resulting δ(13C) value: (1) the δ(13C) values and relative proportion of the starting materials and (2) the extent of fractionation that may occur during the manufacturing process. As the temperature of the CNT production processes can surpass 700 °C, isotopic fractionation (i.e., the preferential incorporation of either the heavy or light isotope from the starting material(s) into the final product) attributed to the manufacturing process is likely very small or negligible,13 and the δ(13C) value of the sample would be mostly dictated by the δ(13C) value(s) of the starting material(s). Since a wide range of carbon-containing starting materials are available to manufacture CNTs, it follows that the resulting range of δ(13C) values of CNTs may also be large, potentially ranging from −10‰ (for CNTs manufactured from C4-based materials such as ethanol) to −55‰ or more negative (for CNTs derived from hydrocarbons or CO).14

Although CNTs have been extensively studied, direct observation and measurement during CNT nucleation and growth is very challenging. Current understanding of CNT growth mechanics is largely based on numerical simulations and theories that are consistent with observations of the final CNT product. Some studies15,16 have used labeled compounds to further elucidate the growth mechanism of CNTs using a single material as the sole carbon source. As CNTs are produced using a variety of carbon sources, catalysts, and under different environmental controls, it is difficult to make any generalization about growth mechanisms other than about the specific method being studied. However, by measuring both the quantity and the δ(13C) value of (each of) the carbon-containing starting material(s), δ(13C) analysis has the potential to estimate the relative amount of the carbon-containing starting material(s) incorporated into the final product, information which may help to elucidate the growth mechanism of a particular CNT, or may be helpful in source appropriation studies.

In 2011, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) produced a high-purity SWCNT certified reference material (CRM), SWCNT-1.8 In an effort to gain more information concerning the growth mechanism of this CNT, we measured the δ(13C) signatures of the available starting materials, samples taken during the production and subsequent collection process, and the final product. Further, we analyzed the δ(13C) values of several commercially available CNTs in an effort to determine if the starting material of a CNT can be predicted based on the measured δ(13C) value. To our knowledge, only one other study has reported δ(13C) measurements for commercially available CNTs,17 and our δ(13C) measurements will be compared to the available literature.

SWCNT-1 Production

The production process of SWCNT-1 via laser vaporization is depicted in Figure 1. The principal carbon source was a biochar derived from the pyrolysis of a hardwood (Ensyn Technologies Inc.), a unique and renewable starting material. A graphite adhesive and cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) catalysts were added to the biochar, and the mixture was pressed into a pellet, then cured at 850 °C in argon. The cured pellet was then mounted on a molybdenum stub support, heated to 1200 °C under a stream of 5% CO in argon (Ar) at 0.66 bar (500 torr), and vaporized with two 1064 nm lasers.18,19 The raw SWCNT was recovered from condensation sites, and this material was homogenized and solvent-washed to remove the residual material, then sieved through a 400 μm sieve to produce clean SWCNT. The clean SWCNT was heated to 1000 °C for 30 min, then cooled to room temperature to produce the final product, SWCNT-1.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Production process of SWCNT-1.

Several samples from this production process were analyzed, including the biochar, a cured pellet, raw SWCNT, clean SWCNT, and three bottles of the final product, SWCNT-1. Five samples from the pellet were obtained by snapping it by hand into pieces and scraping the inside surface of each piece at the cleavage site.

Graphite Samples and Commercially Available CNTs

Three graphite samples were analyzed for this study: one sample obtained from Alfa Aesar (Ward Hill, MA), and the other two were from unknown sources. Several CNT samples were procured from several suppliers (Table 1), and these samples varied with respect to the number of walls and the production method. For many of these samples, information concerning the starting materials was not available.

Table 1. Description of CNT Samples Analyzed for this Studya.

sample ID sample production method description
SW-1a, b, c single-walled carbon nanotubes, three bottles LV SWCNT-1 produced by NRC
SW-2 single-walled carbon nanotubes EAD Sigma-Aldrich Product #698695
SW-3 single-walled carbon nanotubes EAD Sigma-Aldrich Product #750492
SW-4 single-walled carbon nanotubes EAD CarboLex
SW-5 single-walled carbon nanotubes EAD Tuball 76%, produced by OCSiAl
SW-6 single-walled carbon nanotubes CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #900711, supergrowth
SW-7 single-walled carbon nanotubes CVD Elicarb batch J8142
SW-8 single-walled carbon nanotubes CVD Nanocyl Lot NFL55.2
SW-9 single-walled carbon nanotubes CVD SouthWest NanoTechnologies (SWeNT) CoMoCAT
SW-10a, b single-walled carbon nanotubes, two bottles CVD NIST SRM 2483 CoMoCAT
SW-11 single-walled carbon nanotubes CVD Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc. (Unidym), HiPCO
DW-1 double-walled carbon nanotubes CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #755168
MW-1a, b multiwalled carbon nanotubes, lots a and b CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #259258
MW-2 multiwalled carbon nanotubes CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #698849
MW-3 multiwalled carbon nanotubes CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #755117
FW-1 few-walled carbon nanotubes CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #900788, CoMoCAT
NF-1 carbon nanofibers CVD Sigma-Aldrich Product #719803, floating catalyst vapor by Pyrograf Products Inc.
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a

LV = laser vaporization, EAD = electric arc discharge, CVD = chemical vapor deposition.

Carbon Isotope Notation and Traceability

Stable carbon isotope measurements of a sample are expressed on the VPDB scale

graphic file with name ao9b03254_m001.jpg 1

where RSAM and RSTD are the ratio of 13-C/12-C (i.e., n(13C)/n(12C)) in the sample and standard, respectively, and VPDB refers to Vienna PeeDee Belemnite. Since 2005, the VPDB scale was realized using two modern CRMs, LSVEC (lithium carbonate) and NBS 19 (calcium carbonate), which have exact δ(13C) values of −46.6 and +1.95‰. IUPAC no longer recommends the use of LSVEC. However, δ(13C) measurements must be normalized to the VPDB scale using at least two suitable reference materials selected by the analyst.20 Throughout this work, δVPDB13C is shortened to δ(13C).

Results and Discussion

δ13C Measurements of SWCNT-1 CRM and its Production Intermediates

The δ(13C) value of a product can provide insight into the nature of the starting materials used and/or the manufacturing process. To trace the δ(13C) values throughout the production of NRC’s CRM SWCNT-1, the biochar and various samples collected at different stages throughout the production process (Figure 1) were analyzed (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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δ(13C) values of samples taken during the production of SWCNT-1. Error bars represent the SD on replicate analyses. For details on the production process, see the text.

The biochar had a measured δ(13C) value of −26.78 ± 0.03‰ (N = 4) and is consistent with hardwood trees with a C3 photosynthetic pathway.21 Graphite adhesive, cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) catalysts were added to the biochar, pressed into a pellet, and the pellet was cured at 850 °C in Ar. The graphite adhesive is a viscous paste comprised of graphite powder in furfuryl alcohol. During curing, the furfuryl alcohol polymerizes and graphitizes, leaving only graphitic carbon in the pellet. A sample of graphite adhesive was attempted to be measured for δ(13C) values; however, the sample was old and had a tar-like consistency, suggesting that the only available sample was likely compromised.

The average δ(13C) value obtained from five different sampling sites of one pellet, with four sites analyzed in duplicate and one in triplicate, was −30.86 ± 0.47‰ (N = 11), with individual measurements ranging from −30.25 to −31.73‰. With a sample size of only 100 μg, it is possible that the pellet was not homogenous at this small scale, resulting in a 1.5‰ difference between sampling sites. Regardless, the pellet is ∼4–5‰ more negative than the biochar. The curing process incorporates carbon from both the graphite powder and the furfuryl alcohol, with a net result of incorporation of carbon atoms with a more negative δ(13C) value than the biochar.

The cured pellet was then vaporized with two lasers under a stream of 5% CO in Ar in a 1200 °C oven.18,19 The δ(13C) value of the recovered raw SWCNT was −35.62 ± 0.18‰ (N = 4), which is ∼4–5‰ more negative than the cured pellet from which it was derived. As this process occurred at 1200 °C, isotopic fractionation during this manufacturing process is expected to be very small or negligible,13 and the δ(13C) value of the final product should reflect the relative proportion of all sources of carbon incorporated into its structure. The CO in the CO + Ar gas stream was not directly measured. CO is typically derived from the oxidation of methane, and the δ(13C) of methane can range between −50 and −110‰ for biogenically formed methane, and from −20 to −50‰ for thermogenic processes.22 Two commercial tanks of methane of unknown origin were measured to be −38 and −51‰.14 NRC obtained a CO reference gas with a calibrated δ(18O) value of −6.2‰, and an estimated δ(13C) value of −55.5‰. As the estimated δ(13C) value of the CO used in SWCNT-1 production was most likely more negative than the pellet, carbon from the CO was likely incorporated into the raw SWCNT structure.

The extent of CO incorporation into the raw SWCNT (Table 2) can be theoretically estimated by varying an assumed δ(13C) value for the CO and using the mass balance equation

graphic file with name ao9b03254_m002.jpg 2

where apellet and δ13Cpellet are the mass fraction and δ(13C) value of the pellet, respectively, bCO and δ13CCO are the mass fraction and δ(13C) value of the CO, respectively, δ13Craw SWCNT is the δ(13C) value of the raw SWCNT, and apellet + bCO = 1.

Table 2. Estimated Amount of Carbon from CO Incorporated into the Raw SWCNTa.

assumed δ(13C) of CO (δ13CCO), ‰ mass fraction of carbon from pellet (apellet) mass fraction of carbon from CO (bCO)
–40 0.48 0.52
–45 0.66 0.34
–50 0.75 0.25
–55 0.80 0.20
–60 0.84 0.16
–70 0.88 0.12
–80 0.90 0.10
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a

The δ13C values of the pellet and raw SWCNT were −30.86 and −35.62‰, respectively.

Using this method, the theoretical estimated percentage of carbon incorporated into the final product can vary between 10 and 52%, with decreasing amount of carbon from CO incorporation with increasingly negative assumed δ(13C) CO values. To fully understand the distribution of carbon from all starting materials, future experiments will include the δ(13C) measurement of all starting materials and potential sources of carbon, intermediate products from various steps in the production process, and the resulting CNT sample.

The subsequent homogenization and solvent washes of the raw SWCNT to remove the residual material did not significantly alter the δ(13C) value (clean SWCNT δ(13C) = −36.20 ± 0.13‰ (N = 2)), and the average δ(13C) values of the three bottles of the final product SWCNT-1 were very similar: −35.96 ± 0.17‰ (N = 4), −35.97 ± 0.04‰ (N = 2), and −36.04 ± 0.01‰ (N = 2). The average δ(13C) value of the three bottles of SWCNT-1 was −35.98 ± 0.11‰ (N = 8), and little variation in the δ(13C) value between the three bottles was observed. Although this material was not originally intended to be used as a δ(13C) CRM,8 these initial measurements may serve as an informative δ(13C) value for SWCNT-1. Additional analyses are planned to provide a more robust δ(13C) value assignment to SWCNT-1, and to evaluate δ(13C) measurement uncertainty. Further, although most CNTs are produced at high temperatures where fractionation of the starting materials is likely small or negligible, CNTs produced at lower temperatures23 should be evaluated for fractionation of the carbon source material during the production process.

δ(13C) Survey of CNTS

The δ(13C) values of commercially available CNTs are presented in Figure 3. The CNTs varied with respect to the number of walls and production methods. For many of these samples, information concerning the starting materials was not available. As these processes usually involve high temperatures, the measured δ(13C) values of the samples are assumed to reflect that of the starting material(s). Based on the δ(13C) values of the CNTs, inferences concerning the source of the starting materials can be made and may be used as a tool to differentiate between CNT sources.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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δ(13C) values of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs; bottom) manufactured by different production processes (CVD = chemical vapor deposition, EAD = electric arc discharge, LV = laser vaporization), and δ(13C) values of nanotubes with more than one wall (top) produced via the CVD method (DWCNT = double-walled carbon nanotubes, MWCNT = multiwalled carbon nanotubes, FWCNT = few-walled carbon nanotubes, CNF = carbon nanofiber). Error bars represent the SD on replicate analyses.

δ(13C) Values of Samples with Identified Carbon Sources

Sample SW-1 (discussed above) had three possible carbon sources: biochar, graphite adhesive, and CO, all of which likely contributed carbon to the final product. Both the HiPCO and CoMoCAT processes use CO as the starting material9,10 and other researchers have reported δ(13C) values ranging from −49.8 to −51.7‰ from SWCNT samples produced using these methods.17 Sample SW-11 was produced using the HiPCO method and yielded the most negative δ(13C) value measured in this study, −55.32‰, consistent with previously published data.17 Samples SW-9, SW-10, and FW-1 were manufactured using the CoMoCAT process. While SW-10 and FW-1 showed relatively negative δ(13C) values of −43.86 and −43.85‰ (for two separate bottles of SW-10), and −42.78‰ (for FW-1), SW-9 measured a relatively more positive δ(13C) value of −34.16‰, which may reflect the extent of variation in the δ(13C) values of the CO used in the manufacturing process.

Sample SW-5, with a δ(13C) value of −43.59‰, was obtained from OcSiAl, with the brand name Tuball. While the production process of this particular sample was not verified, the manufacturing process used by this company involves the use of EAD to produce plasma, and hydrocarbons between C1 and C10 can be the carbon source.24 δ(13C) values of methane (C1), ethane (C2), and propane (C3) in natural gas samples can range from −26 to −73‰,25 and methane between −20 and −110‰,22 which is consistent with natural gas as a carbon source for SW-5.

δ(13C) Values of Samples with Inferred Carbon Sources

Three other samples (SW-2, SW-3, and SW-4) were produced via the EAD method, with δ(13C) values ranging between −31.13 and −35.19‰, a similar range to that reported by other researchers (−23.5 to −36.7‰17). The most common source material for this process is graphite.4 For this study, three graphite samples were analyzed, with δ(13C) values of −24.57, −26.15, and −27.07‰, and graphite samples as negative as −41‰ have been reported.14 The measured δ(13C) values for SW-2, SW-3, and SW-4 are consistent with graphite as a source material.

Inferring Carbon Sources Based on δ(13C) Measurements

Reliable information concerning the source materials could not be found for nine CNT samples produced via the CVD method. This method can use a wide variety of catalysts, carbon sources, and operating conditions to produce CNTs.1,6 Based on the measured δ(13C) values from the samples with known or inferred carbon sources, the type of carbon source(s) was anticipated.

Both MW-3 and SW-6 had similar δ(13C) values of −32.69 and −33.21‰, respectively. SW-6 was produced via a supergrowth CVD method, and previous research using this method reported the use of ethylene as the source material.26 The δ(13C) value of SW-6 and MW-3 is consistent with a reported δ(13C) value of −35.2‰ for a SWCNT sample with a known ethylene source,17 which may be a likely source material for these two samples. Two different lots of sample MW-1 both had average δ(13C) values of −26.32‰, which were the most positive δ(13C) values measured from this study. This relatively more positive δ(13C) value is consistent with being derived from a plant source with a C3-based photosynthetic pathway, with a range of −21 to −35‰.21

Samples SW-7, SW-8, MW-2, DW-1, and NF-1 all demonstrated relatively negative δ(13C) values between −42.20 and −49.06‰. Of the CNTs with known carbon sources measured in this study and in the literature,17 only CNTs using CO, methane, or natural gas, had δ(13C) values more negative than −40‰. Therefore, we suggest that CNTs with relatively negative δ(13C) values (for instance, those with δ(13C) values more negative than −40‰) may use CO (or methane or natural gas) as either the sole starting material, or as was observed with SW-1, as at least one of the carbon-containing components that is incorporated into the CNT structure.

Conclusions

Stable carbon isotope analysis of both the starting materials and the final product can provide insight into the nature of the starting materials and the mechanics of the production process. For the NRC CRM SWCNT-1, δ(13C) measurements of the carbon-containing starting materials and samples collected at different stages throughout the production process demonstrated that three sources of carbon were likely incorporated into the final product. For some commercially available CNTs, the carbon source material was known or could be inferred based on the production method and in most cases were related to the source material. The δ(13C) values of commercially available CNTs with unknown starting materials were used to infer the carbon sources of these products. Given that the starting materials, exact quantities and nature of catalysts, and production conditions used in the production of CNTs are proprietary, we suggest that the use of δ(13C) analysis may be used as a tracer to differentiate between those processes that use CO (or similarly 13C-depleted carbon source(s) such as methane or natural gas) and those that do not.

Experimental Section

All samples received no treatment prior to δ(13C) analysis. Approximately, 100 μg of carbon nanotube samples and a microscoop of the combustion aid vanadium pentoxide (V2O5; Elemental Microanalysis, Okehampton, U.K.) were added to tin capsules (Elemental Microanalysis; Okehampton, U.K.) and loaded onto an 80-position autosampler carousel for δ(13C) analysis. All analyses were performed on an elemental analyzer (EA, Vario EL III, Elementar Americas Inc., Mt. Laurel, NJ) interfaced to a Delta+XP isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS, Thermo Fisher; Bremen, Germany) via a Conflow III gas flow controller (Thermo Fisher; Bremen, Germany). The flow rate of the helium (99.999% purity; Air Liquide; Montreal, QC, Canada) was ∼155 mL/min. The combustion and reduction reactors were held at 950 and 500 °C, respectively. No sample helium dilution was used for the analyses.

Samples were analyzed in four sequences. To minimize any potential carryover due to incomplete combustion, an empty space was included after every blank, sample, and CRM. In all cases, the total area signal of the empty space was similar in magnitude to blank samples, suggesting complete conversion of the carbon sample to CO2. Blank samples, both with V2O5 and without, were included at the beginning and end of the sequences, and comprised ≤2% of the total area signal. All analyses were blank-corrected, using either the blanks with no V2O5 (for CRMs with no added V2O5) or blanks with V2O5 (for all samples and USGS24). No drift corrections were applied to any of the analysis sequences. The IUPAC recommended algorithm for correction of the oxygen-17 contribution to the ion beam at m/z 45 was applied to all analyses.27

All samples were normalized to four CRMs: a suite of three sugar CRMs from NRC:28 BEET-1 (δ(13C) = −26.02‰), GALT-1 (δ(13C) = −21.41‰), and FRUT-1 (δ(13C) = −10.98‰) and NBS-22 (δ(13C) = −30.03‰29). Two quality control (QC) samples were included with each set of reference materials: USGS24, graphite (δ(13C) = −16.05‰29) and an internal QC material (δ13C = −22.95‰). A microscoop of V2O5 was added to USGS24, but no combustion aids were added to BEET-1, GALT-1, FRUT-1, NBS-22, or the internal QC sample. The coefficients of determination (R2) for each normalization curve were ≥0.998. The average δ(13C) values ± standard deviation (SD) of USGS24, which is the closest matrix-matched QC to the samples, were −15.94 ± 0.09‰ (N = 5), −15.90 ± 0.23‰ (N= 4), −16.14 ± 0.18‰ (N = 3), and −16.09 ± 0.17‰ (N = 3) for the four analysis runs. As these average δ(13C) values are within the accepted δ13C value of USGS24, −16.05‰, with a standard uncertainty of 0.07‰,30 we are confident that the use of organic CRMs with no addition of V2O5 to normalize carbon-only samples did not introduce any appreciable bias on the measured δ(13C) values. The average δ(13C) values ± SD of the second QC material were −22.92 ± 0.06‰ (N = 5), −22.97 ± 0.16‰ (N = 4), −23.03 ± 0.21‰ (N = 5), and −22.99 ± 0.38‰ (N = 3) and were similar to the known value of −22.95‰. All samples were analyzed in at least duplicate, and the SD was <0.50‰ for all replicate measurements.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank M. Plunkett and D. Ruth for valuable discussions on SWCNT-1 production.

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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