Direct Observation of Intercalant and Catalyst Particle in Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

1999 ◽  
Vol 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Fan ◽  
E. C. Dickey ◽  
P. Eklund ◽  
K. Williams ◽  
L. Grigorian ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) imaging technique has been used to study dopant atoms and catalyst particles in single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Iodine and bromine have been doped respectively in arc-grown SWNTs. We have directly observed the dopant sites and distributions. Both dopants appear to be incorporated linearly within the SWNT bundles. SWNT were also grown by pulsed laser ablation with mixed Ni and Co catalyst, and the size and distribution of catalytic particles was studied. By using Z-contrast imaging, we found that the size distribution of the catalyst particles varied over a large range, but even the smallest were larger than the diameter of an individual SWNT. Furthermore, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is used to determine the composition of individual nanocatalyst particles, and were found to consist of a uniform alloy of Co and Ni.

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (S2) ◽  
pp. 208-209
Author(s):  
E.C. Dickey

Similar to graphite and carbon fullerenes, the physical properties of carbon nanotubes (NTs) can be altered by ex-situ doping or by functionalizing the nanotube walls. Such mechanisms for tailoring the properties of carbon NTs expand their potential utility in electronic, optical and structural applications. Both acceptor (e.g. I2, Br) and donor-type (e.g. K, Rb) dopants have been successfully intercalated into single-wall NT (SWNT) bundles, and the transport properties of these doped species are greatly altered. For example, iodine-doped SWNTs exhibit a 40% decrease in DC conductivity. Doped SWNTs are a completely new class of nanostructured materials, and there is a large demand for understanding the structure of the various doped-compounds as well as the ramifications for the electronic properties of the material.In this paper we demonstrate the utility of Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) for elucidating the structure of doped nanotubes.


Author(s):  
DJ Wallis ◽  
ND Browning ◽  
CM Megaridis

Iron is a ubiquitous element on the earth's surface, and is thus involved in most naturally occurring fires. Iron organometalic compounds have also been known to suppress carbonaceous soot emissions under certain operating conditions of practical combustors. In order to unravel the physical and chemical mechanisms of influence, of iron on the emission of carbonaceous pyrogenic particles, finescale characterization techniques need to be implemented.The combined techniques of Z-contrast imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a VG HB-501 dedicated STEM are ideally suited to study such a system. The sensitivity of the Z-contrast imaging technique to high-Z materials makes it ideal for location of the iron particles within the much lower atomic number matrix. As only the high-angle scattering is used in the image formation, EELS can be performed simultaneously from a position defined in the image. This accurate positioning of the probe by the Z-contrast image permits both compositional and bonding information to be obtained with a spatial resolution approaching the atomic scale.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (S2) ◽  
pp. 48-49
Author(s):  
X. Fan ◽  
E.C. Dickey ◽  
A.A. Puretzky ◽  
D.B. Geohegan ◽  
S.J. Pennycook

Doping carbon nanotubes with either electron donors or acceptors can improve their electrical conductivity [1-2]. In order to fully understand the doping mechanisms and the corresponding changes in the electronic properties, it is essential to reveal the spatial distribution of the dopants within the carbon nanotubes. In this study we have investigated both iodine- and bromine-doped single wall carbon nanotubes(SWNT) by Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The SWNT bundles were made by arc-discharge method and doped with either molten iodine or bromine vapor. Both iodine and bromine were incorporated linearly within the nanotube bundles as shown in Fig. l and Fig.2 respectively. Higher resolution images of iodine doped nanotubes reveals that two iodine atomic chains are inside each individual SWNT as shown in Fig. lc. This unexpected result is contrary to the common belief that dopants can only enter interstitial site of the SWNT bundles.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabraj Bhattarai ◽  
Subarna Khanal ◽  
Daniel Bahena ◽  
Robert L. Whetten ◽  
Miguel Jose-Yacaman

ABSTRACTThe synthesis of bimetallic magnetic nanoparticles is very challenging because of the agglomeration and non-uniform size. In this paper, we present the synthesis of monodispersed 3-5 nm sized thiolated bimetallic alloyed Au/Co nanoparticles with decahedral and icosahedral shape, their characterization using Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and magnetic measurements using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The Z-contrast imaging and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping showed an inhomogeneous alloying with minor segregation between Au and Co at nanoscale and the SQUID measurement exhibited the ferromagnetic behavior.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Daisuke Ogawa ◽  
Ryo Kitaura ◽  
Takeshi Saito ◽  
Shinobu Aoyagi ◽  
Eiji Nishibori ◽  
...  

Thermally fragile tris(η5-cyclopentadienyl)erbium (ErCp3) molecules are encapsulated in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with high yield. We realized the encapsulation of ErCp3with high filling ratio by using high quality SWCNTs at an optimized temperature under higher vacuum. Structure determination based on high-resolution transmission electron microscope observations together with the image simulations reveals the presence of almost free rotation of each ErCp3molecule in SWCNTs. The encapsulation is also confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Trivalent character of Er ions (i.e., Er3+) is confirmed by X-ray absorption spectrum.


1999 ◽  
Vol 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Kotaka ◽  
T. Yamazaki ◽  
Y Kikuchi ◽  
K. Watanabe

AbstractThe high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) technique in a dedicated scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) provides strong compositional sensitivity dependent on atomic number (Z-contrast image). Furthermore, a high spatial resolution image is comparable to that of conventional coherent imaging (HRTEM). However, it is difficult to obtain a clear atomic structure HAADF image using a hybrid TEM/STEM. In this work, HAADF images were obtained with a JEOL JEM-2010F (with a thermal-Schottky field-emission) gun in probe-forming mode at 200 kV. We performed experiments using Si and GaAs in the [110] orientation. The electron-optical conditions were optimized. As a result, the dumbbell structure was observed in an image of [110] Si. Intensity profiles for GaAs along [001] showed differences for the two atomic sites. The experimental images were analyzed and compared with the calculated atomic positions and intensities obtained from Bethe's eigen-value method, which was modified to simulate HAADF-STEM based on Allen and Rossouw's method for convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED). The experimental results showed a good agreement with the simulation results.


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