Electron beam puncturing of carbon nanotube containers for release of stored N ₂ gas

Abstract:

Carbon nanotubes containing nitrogen encapsulated in nanocontainers regularly distributed along the tube axis, have been produced by pyrolysing camphor in the presence of a mixture of nitrogen and ammonia gas. Spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis reveals that N₂ molecules are contained within the nanocapsules. The well-graphitized walls can be punctured by electron irradiation, thus partially releasing N₂. This process is accompanied by the formation of amorphous CN_x islands, as demonstrated by dynamic recording and analysis of time- resolved EELS sequences. Such local in situ electron beam nanomachining and nanoanalysis provide a method for producing under control new classes of nanodevices.