Optical visualization of individual ultralong carbon nanotubes by chemical vapour deposition of titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Direct visualization and manipulation of individual carbon nanotubes in ambient conditions is of great significance for their characterizations and applications. However, the observation of individual carbon nanotubes usually requires electron microscopes under high vacuum. Optical microscopes are much more convenient to be used, yet their resolution is low. Here we realize the visualization and manipulation of individual ultralong carbon nanotubes under optical microscopes by deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles on them. The strong scattering of TiO2 nanoparticles to visible light renders them visible by optical microscopes. Micro-Raman-spectroscopy measurement of individual carbon nanotubes is greatly facilitated by their optical visualization. With the assistance of TiO2 nanoparticles, individual carbon nanotubes can be easily manipulated under an optical microscope at macroscopic scale and in ambient conditions. Based on our approach, various manipulation of ultralong carbon nanotubes, including cutting, transfer, fabrication of structures/devices and pulling out inner shells of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, are demonstrated.