Single-walled carbon nanotubes as nano-electrode and nano-reactor to control the pathways of a redox reaction.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes have been demonstrated as effective nanoscale containers for a redox active organometallic complex Cp(Me)Mn(CO)3, acting simultaneously as nano-electrode and nano-reactor. Extreme spatial confinement of the redox reaction within the nanotubes changes its pathway compared to bulk solution due to stabilisation of a reactive intermediate.