Controlled growth-reversal of catalytic carbon nanotubes under electron-beam irradiation.
The growth of carbon nanotubes from Ni catalysts is reversed and observed in real time in a transmission electron microscope, at room temperature. The Ni catalyst is found to be Ni3C and remains attached to the nanotube throughout the irradiation sequence, indicating that C most likely diffuses on the surface of the catalyst to form nanotubes. We calculate the energy barrier for saturating the Ni3C (2-13) surface with C to be 0.14 eV, thus providing a low-energy surface for the formation of graphene planes.
Stolojan
Vlad
V
Nano-Electronics Centre, Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
Tison
Yann
Y
Chen
Guan Yow
GY
Silva
Ravi
R
D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004583:Electrons; D008422:Materials Testing; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000528:radiation effects
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon