Direct curvature measurement of the compartments in bamboo-shaped multi-walled carbon nanotubes via scanning probe microscopy

Abstract

Bamboo-shaped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (BS-MWCNTs) have compartmented structures inherently obtained during their catalytic growth, and the curvature of the compartmented structure is known to be determined by the morphology of the metal catalysts. In this study, the inside curvature of the BS-MWCNTs was directly measured through scanning probe microscopy (SPM). The surface of the compartment structures of BS-MWCNTs has discontinuous graphene layers and different frictional force levels depending on the curvature direction. That of the inside curvature can be directly observed through tribological analysis by adding and subtracting the lateral force microscopy images obtained on opposite sides along the axial direction of the BS-MWCNT (diameter of 500 nm). This tells us the direction of the inside curvature of the BS-MWCNT, which was also confirmed by identifying the growth direction of the BS-MWCNTs via scanning electron microscopy. Our demonstration implies that SPM can give the same insight into the structural characterization of nanomaterials that is relatively inexpensive and more user-friendly than currently used methods.

Atomic and Electronic Structure of Metal–Salen Complexes [M(Salen)], Their Polymers and Composites Based on Them with Carbon Nanostructures: Review of X-ray Spectroscopy Studies

“…Therefore, SWCNTs can exhibit both metallic and semiconductor conductivity depending on chirality, whereas MWCNTs only exhibit metallic conductivity. MWCNTs are able to take on different shapes, including a Russian doll made of several concentric graphene tubes, a scroll-type structure created by wrapping a single graphene sheet, and a bamboo-shaped structure (Figure 3b) [80,81]. Significantly, the multilayered structure of MWCNTs enables the outer layer not only to protect the inner tubes from chemical reactions during environmental interactions but also to manifest superior tensile properties, which was a disadvantage of SWCNTs [80].…”

THE KEY ROLE OF MICRODEFORMATIONS IN THE FORMATION OF THE DOMAIN STRUCTURE OF MWCNTs

“…Строительными блоками поверхности УНТ являются графеновые фрагментыкристаллиты [2]. Тип (кресло, зигзаг), размер и ориентация кристаллитовважнейшая характеристика структурного беспорядка нанотрубок [2][3][4]. В [5] Работа выполнена в рамках государственного задания ИФПМ СО РАН, FWRW-2022-0002.…”

On the Possible Nature of Armchair-Zigzag Structure Formation and Heat Capacity Decrease in MWCNTs

“…The CNT surface is composed of graphene fragments (crystallites) [6]. Their type (armchair, zigzag), size, and orientation are the most important characteristics of structural disorder of nanotubes [6][7][8].…”