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Characterization of Magnetically Aligned Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes Using Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2020

Brian W. Smith  and
David E. Luzzi
Brian W. Smith
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA19104-6272USA
David E. Luzzi
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA19104-6272USA
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The ability to align single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is paramount for harnessing their remarkable anisotropic electronic and mechanical properties. D.A. Walters et al. (Rice Univ.) have succeeded in aligning milligram quantities of SWNTs using a strong magnetic field. The nanotubes were aligned in suspension and simultaneously filtered to produce a thin membrane. However, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) — the traditional technique for obtaining fiber patterns — has proven ineffective in determining the degree of alignment due in part to carbon's weak atomic scattering factor for X-rays.

In the present work we succeed in quantitatively characterizing this membrane using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A self-supporting sample was prepared by peeling ∼ 0.5 mm long strips from the material. TEM images reveal that the membrane itself is not a single, large bundle (i.e. rope) of SWNTs. Instead, it has a prominent texture, corresponding to many ropes aligned parallel to the direction of the applied magnetic field.

Type
Sir John Meurig Thomas Symposium: Microscopy and Microanalysis in the Chemical Sciences
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 6 , Issue S2: Proceedings: Microscopy & Microanalysis 2000, Microscopy Society of America 58th Annual Meeting, Microbeam Analysis Society 34th Annual Meeting, Microscopical Society of Canada/Societe de Microscopie de Canada 27th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 13-17, 2000 , August 2000 , pp. 26 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America

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References

1. Walters, D.A. et al. (submitted, 2000).Google Scholar

2. Rinzler, A.G. et al, Appl. Phys. A. 67, 29–37 (1998).CrossRefGoogle Scholar