Graphitic cage transformation by electron-beam-induced catalysis with alkali-halide nanocrystals

Abstract

We found that alkali-halide nanocrystals, such as KCl and NaCl, have strong catalytic capability to form graphitic carbon cages from amorphous carbon shells under electron beam irradiation. In addition to the electron beam irradiation strongly inducing the decomposition of alkali-halide nanocrystals, graphene fragments were formed and linked together to form the final product of thin graphitic carbon cages after the evaporation of alkali-halide nanocrystals. The required electron dose was approximately 1 to 20 C/cm2 at 120 keV at room temperature, which was about two orders of magnitude smaller than that required for conventional beam-induced graphitization. The “knock-on” effect of primary electrons strongly induced the decomposition of the alkali-halide crystal inside the amorphous carbon shell. However, the strong ionic cohesion quickly reformed the crystal into thin layers inside the amorphous shell. The bond excitation induced by the electron beam irradiation seemed to enhance strongly the graphitization at the interface between the outer amorphous carbon shell and the inner alkali-halide crystal.