Kulshrestha N., Hazra K.S., Roy S., Bajpai R., Mohapatra D.R., Misra D.S.
Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay, IN
Keywords: carbon nanotubes, Ni filled CNTs
Nickel nanorods encapsulated inside the multiwalled carbon nanotubes were prepared using MPCVD technique. As prepared tubes encapsulating nickel were investigated by SEM, XRD and HRTEM. HRTEM study of these tubes exhibits long, good crystalline nickel filled CNTs with well-graphitized walls. It has been observed that the nickel filling inside might be single or poly crystalline having different orientations with respect to graphitic walls and the orientations get affected by the electrons accelerating voltages of 200 KeV. In some tubes, Ni planes were found to be parallel to the nanotube walls. It is new observation as in all the earlier reported works Ni planes are oriented at some angle with respect to nanotubes walls. We report that by deliberate e-irradiation at specific sites the crystalline planes of nickel change their orientation. In another observation we found that, owing to the combined effect of temperature and pressure conditions at the time of growth and e-irradiation during TEM imaging, nickel rod may come out from the tube by breaking the walls of the tube. Our results may provide insight for various phenomena related to the interaction of filling metal and nanotube walls. The so obtained CNTs with exposed metal at the tip of the tube may prove ideal for contact formation to study the electrical properties of these intriguing multiwalled structures.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Nanotechnology 2010: Advanced Materials, CNTs, Particles, Films and Composites
Published: June 21, 2010
Pages: 250 - 253
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topic: Carbon Nano Structures & Devices
ISBN: 978-1-4398-3401-5