Direct evidence for the existence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with hexagonal cross-sections

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• 作者：Zhanbing He ; ^{hezhanbing@gmail.com} ; ^{Zhanbing.He@ua.ac.be} ; Xiaoxing Ke ; Sara Bals ; Gustaaf Van Tendeloo
• 刊名：Carbon
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：June, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：50
• 期：7
• 页码：2524-2529
• 全文大小：1048 K

文摘

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a polygonal cross-section have been paid increasing attention since their three-dimensional structure is related to specific physical properties, which are found to be different in comparison to CNTs with a circular cross-section. Here, we report the existence of novel multi-walled CNTs yielding walls with a rounded-hexagonal configuration. This structure was directly confirmed for the first time by both cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography. The morphology of the Fe catalytic particle also exhibits hexagonal characteristics, and is proposed as the origin of the formation of the rounded-hexagonal walls of the CNT. This observation is of great importance with respect to the design of polygonal (such as pentagonal or hexagonal) cross-sectional CNTs. By controlling the morphology of the catalytic nanoparticles it will be possible to grow CNTs with desired electronic and mechanical properties.