Combined STM/STS, TEM/EELS investigation of CNx -SWNTs

Nitrogen doped single‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNx ‐SWNTs) were successfully synthesized by vaporizing a C:Ni/Y target by a CO2 continuous laser under a nitrogen atmosphere. The as‐grown nanotubes were investigated by combining TEM/EELS and STM/STS techniques. According to TEM observations, the tubes are mostly single‐walled and few defects are found. Local chemical characterization was performed by EELS analysis, which proves the presence of nitrogen in both individual tubes and SWNTs bundles and indicates a nitrogen concentration around 1 at.%. STM observations of CNx ‐SWNTs have been then undertaken and atomic resolution images were obtained. First STM analyses of these nanotubes show some defects which have never been observed in pure carbon nanotubes before. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)