Revealing the 1 nm/s extensibility of nanoscale amorphous carbon in a scanning electron microscope

Abstract

In an ultra-high vacuum scanning electron microscope, the edged branches of amorphous carbon film (∼10 nm thickness) can be continuously extended with an eye-identifying speed (on the order of ∼1 nm/s) under electron beam. Such unusual mobility of amorphous carbon may be associated with deformation promoted by the electric field, which resulted from an inner secondary electron potential difference from the main trunk of carbon film to the tip end of branches under electron beam. This result demonstrates importance of applying electrical effects to modify properties of carbon materials. It may have positive implications to explore some amorphous carbon as electron field emission device.

Direct writing on graphene ‘paper’ by manipulating electrons as ‘invisible ink’

“…The carbon species in graphene are sensitive to a variety of irradiation effects, including knock-on displacements, electronic excitations, radiolysis and radiation-induced diffusion. Therefore, an electron beam is a very effective tool for probing the interaction between electrons and carbon atoms on amorphous carbon [20] and graphene [21][22][23]. For instance, the irradiation of amorphous carbon with a 100 or 200 keV electron beam induces the formation of sp 2 carbon onions [24].…”