Significance of Bundling Effects on Carbon Nanotubes’ Response to Hydrostatic Compression

The study of the G-mode pressure coefficients of carbon nanotubes, reflecting the stiff sp2 bond pressure dependence, is essential to the understanding of their extraordinary mechanical properties as well as fundamental mechanics. However, it is hindered by the availability of carbon nanotubes samples only as bundles or isolated with surfactants. Octadecylamine-functionalized carbon nanotubes are mostly of a single diameter and can be stably dispersed in 1,2-dichloroethane and chloroform without surfactants. Here we perform high-pressure Raman spectroscopy on these tubes and obtain their experimental G-mode pressure coefficients for individual tubes and bundles. The G+ pressure coefficient for bundles is only about half of that for individual tubes in 1,2-dichloroethane and is about two-thirds in chloroform. The G– pressure coefficient for bundles is about one-third of G+ in 1,2-dichloroethane and about the same in chloroform. These results for the first time provide unambiguous experimental evidence of t...