Physics and chemistry inside nanotubes

The interior of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is investigated by filling it with fullerenes and PbO. In the former case, maximum filling concentrations are evaluated for various fullerenes as a function of tube diameter, For filling with C-60 a calibration table is provided that allows the determination of the filling concentration from Raman experiments. Smart filling from solution, from isotope-labeled fullerenes, and filling from nonfullerenic carbon sources is discussed. In the case of filling with PbO, an influence of lateral confinement on the phonon wave functions, an instability of the tubes versus laser irradiation, and the persistent formation of PbO nano-wires are observed.