Spontaneous Formation of Transition‐Metal Nanoparticles on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Anchored with Conjugated Molecules

Discrete transition-metal nanoparticles are spontaneously formed on the sidewalls of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), which are noncovalently functionalized with 2,2′;6,2′′-terpyridine (Terpy). Such nanotubes are electron-rich hybrid systems, which overcome the energy barrier that prohibits spontaneous electron transfer from SWNTs to transition-metal ions. Hence, the nucleation of transition-metal ions on the nanotube surfaces becomes energetically favorable at room temperature.