Molecular Junctions by Joining Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Abstract
Crossing single-walled carbon nanotubes can be joined by electron beam welding to form molecular junctions. Stable junctions of various geometries are created in situ in a transmission electron microscope. Electron beam exposure at high temperatures induces structural defects which promote the joining of tubes via cross-linking of dangling bonds. The observations are supported by molecular dynamics simulations which show that the creation of vacancies and interstitials induces the formation of junctions involving seven- or eight-membered carbon rings at the surface between the tubes.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- July 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.075505
- Bibcode:
- 2002PhRvL..89g5505T
- Keywords:
-
- 61.46.+w;
- 68.37.Lp;
- 81.07.De;
- Transmission electron microscopy;
- Nanotubes