Transmission electron microscopy imaging of individual functional groups of fullerene derivatives.
Mobility and reactivity of the functionalized fullerenes with pyrrolidine (C60-C3NH7) incorporated in single-wall carbon nanotubes were examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. An individual functional group attached to each fullerene cage is unambiguously visualized. This provides a direct evidence for the functionalized structure on a single-molecular basis. A rotational motion of the incorporated molecules tends to occur during the observation and, consequently, each fullerene molecule is likely to stand facing its functionalized group towards the nanotube wall. A fine structure analysis of electron energy-loss spectra for the nitrogen K(1s) edge shows a considerable change in the nitrogen chemical state and suggests a strong tube-fullerene interaction.
Liu
Zheng
Z
Research Center for Advanced Carbon Materials, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan.
Koshino
Masanori
M
Suenaga
Kazu
K
Mrzel
Ales
A
Kataura
Hiromichi
H
Iijima
Sumio
S