Three-dimensional evaluation of an independent multi-walled carbon nanotube probe by tomography with high-resolution transmission electron microscope

J Electron Microsc (Tokyo). 2011;60(1):19-24. doi: 10.1093/jmicro/dfq072. Epub 2010 Oct 12.

Abstract

We evaluated an independent multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) probe by using tomography with a high-resolution transmission electron microscope to verify the three-dimensional structure of the probe tip. The new method of probe evaluation revealed the following features: (i) cutting the end of the MWNT probe caused the wall structure to disintegrate and encapsulated the graphene sheets fragmented by the discharged pulse; (ii) the cap of the MWNT probe was an open cylinder covered by walls similar in shape to a rectangular slit; (iii) the grooves of the inner walls of the MWNT probe, which were created by the discharge cutting method, maintained a cylindrical shape that was different from the peeling-off mechanism.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Graphite / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Tomography / methods*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Graphite