TEM image simulation study of small carbon nanotubes and carbon nanowire

Abstract

Recent findings of extremely small diameter carbon nanotube and nanowire in the core of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) have attracted interests from broad range of researchers. Direct observation of carbon nanotube is usually done using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). When nanotubes become smaller, it becomes harder to correctly understand the TEM images, not only because of the weak scattering, but also due to the artifact that starts to appear because of the interference effect and the inappropriate defocus condition. In this study, we have shown that the artifact such as ghost fringes due to inappropriate defocus conditions of the TEM appear in the core of an MWCNT, and can be misinterpreted as either carbon nanowire or small carbon nanotube. It is also shown that, in the TEM image, it is hard to distinguish a single-walled nanotube bundle from a double-walled carbon nanotube bundle. Finally, we propose that the cross-sectional observation is necessary for the correct characterization of single- and double-walled carbon nanotube bundles.