Characterization of carbon nanotubes by nanoprobe manipulation in transmission electron microscope

Two types of telescopic sliding deformation processes in multiwalled carbon nanotubes were observed dynamically and their sliding forces were measured experimentally by employing nanoprobe manipulation in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The sliding force was measured using a commercially available Si cantilever installed in the manipulator. A constant sliding force of approximately 70nN was measured during the telescopic sliding of a inner shell of diameter 5.8 nm. However, the sliding force in multilayered shells was variable. The nanoscale measurements performed using the TEM contributed to the characterization of the structural details during the deformation.