Growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes from sharp metal tips.
The nucleation and growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes is observed in situ in a transmission electron microscope. Carbon atoms are implanted into catalytically active metal particles by electron-beam sputtering. The metal particles are then shaped with a focused electron beam. Once the particles have a region of high surface curvature, spontaneous nucleation and growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes occurs on the metal particles. It is shown that the local solubility of carbon in the metal determines the nucleation of nanotubes. This is confirmed by atomistic computer simulations treating the solubility of carbon in a metal particle as a function of the size of the system.
Rodríguez-Manzo
Julio A
JA
Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux, UMR 7504, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Janowska
Izabela
I
Pham-Huu
Cuong
C
Tolvanen
Antti
A
Krasheninnikov
Arkady V
AV
Nordlund
Kai
K
Banhart
Florian
F
D004583:Electrons; D008670:Metals; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012995:Solubility; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
D008670:Metals; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon