Nucleation of Graphene and Its Conversion to Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We use an environmental transmission electron microscope to record atomic-scale movies showing how carbon atoms assemble together on a catalyst nanoparticle to form a graphene sheet that progressively lifts-off to convert into a nanotube. Time-resolved observations combined with theoretical calculat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano letters 2014-11, Vol.14 (11), p.6104-6108
Main Authors: Picher, Matthieu, Lin, Pin Ann, Gomez-Ballesteros, Jose L, Balbuena, Perla B, Sharma, Renu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic force microscopy
Carbon
Catalytic methods
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Conversion
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions
Exact sciences and technology
Fullerenes and related materials
diamonds, graphite
General studies of phase transitions
Graphene
Materials science
Mathematical analysis
Methods of nanofabrication
Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization
Nanostructure
Nanotubes
Nucleation
Physics
Single wall carbon nanotubes
Specific materials
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Description
Summary:We use an environmental transmission electron microscope to record atomic-scale movies showing how carbon atoms assemble together on a catalyst nanoparticle to form a graphene sheet that progressively lifts-off to convert into a nanotube. Time-resolved observations combined with theoretical calculations confirm that some nanoparticle facets act like a vice-grip for graphene, offering anchoring sites, while other facets allow the graphene to lift-off, which is the essential step to convert into a nanotube.
ISSN:1530-6984
1530-6992
DOI:10.1021/nl501977b