title: Direct imaging and chemical identification of the encapsulated metal atoms in bimetallic endofullerene peapods.
abstract: In this paper, a chemically sensitive local characterization technique is used to characterize fullerene peapods containing two metal atoms within each fullerene. By combining bright-field imaging, high-angle annular dark-field imaging, and electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope, unambiguous identification of the metal atoms present is possible. Key to making this possible is aberration correction, which allows atomic resolution at lower beam energies. The peapods can be imaged for several consecutive scans at 80 keV beam energy, and the combination of techniques allows the position as well as the species of the encapsulated atoms to be identified. Movements of the encapsulated atoms are monitored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH UK. rebecca.nicholls@materials.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: Kasim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sader
authors.forename: Jamie H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Plant
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Porfyrakis
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nellist
authors.forename: G Andrew D
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: David J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cockayne