In Situ TEM of Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

The recognition that in situ TEM can be used as a powerful tool for the dynamic characterization of materials has been widely established. However, with the advent of CCD and direct detection cameras, and the development in electron optics, stage design and fabrication, and recording media, scientists and engineers are now being able to further enhance the capabilities of previous TEM analysis through novel in situ experiments, by observing and recording the behavior of materials in different conditions, such as heating, cooling, stress, light, electric fi elds, as well as liquid and gas environments. This technique has been critical in understanding and characterizing the relationship between properties and the nano/microstructure of materials and has been important in validating the information contained in previous single static TEM experiments with a series of dynamic sequential images. In addition, the emerging development of nanomaterials, a fi eld which has become one of the most promising fi elds of science and technology today, has brought an exciting resurgence of interest in in situ TEM, as the previous issue of thinning bulk specimens is no longer present.Currently, the development of aberration-corrected TEM/STEMs, direct detection cameras, and the miniaturization of specimen holders have created new opportunities for in situ TEM. In the case of aberration-corrected TEM/STEMs, the

Structural changes of electron and ion beam-deposited contacts in annealed carbon-based electrical devices

“…In fact, the study of the electrodenanocarbon interface to improve transport across the contact is a central issue 12 . One strategy to maximize the metal-carbon interaction is to deposit films of a-C by EBID 13 and to thermally anneal the device 14 .…”

“…Generally, studies focus on analyzing the electrical transport properties of the carbon nanostructure and provide limited information on the nature of the contacts or the steps and parameters that are required to optimize the device. In fact, the study of the electrode-nanocarbon interface to improve transport across the contact is a central issue [12]. One strategy to maximize the metal-carbon interaction is to deposit films of a-C by EBID [13] and to thermally anneal the device [14].…”