In situ observation of the initial growth process of carbon nanotubes by time-resolved high resolution transmission electron microscopy

We succeeded in plan-view dynamic observation of the initial formation proc ess of carbon nanotubes from beta -SiC((1) over bar(1) over bar(1) over bar ) surfaces by time-resolved high resolution transmission electron microscop y. At 1360 degreesC, the flakes of graphite lavers of a fibre orientation w ere formed on the Sic((1) over bar(1) over bar(1) over bar) surfaces. From the graphite layers, carbon nanotubes were formed perpendicular to the ((1) over bar(1) over bar(1) over bar) plane of the SiC. A scanning tunnelling microscopy observation showed that the end of carbon nanotube was closed. T hese results indicate that the caps of the carbon nanotubes are formed by a lift of a part of the graphene along the [(1) over bar(1) over bar(1) over bar] direction of the SiC through generation of pentagons and heptagons. T wo types of carbon nanotube, single-wall and double-wall. were observed in plan-view images. Different image intensity between an outer ring and an in ner ring in double-wall nanotubes suggests that the inner lavers of multiwa ll nanotubes are formed after the outer ones.