A.S. Kumskov

The structure of 1D CuI crystals inside SWNTs.

Nanocomposites consisting of one‐dimensional CuI crystals inside single‐walled carbon nanotubes were obtained using the capillary technique. high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy investigations of the atomic structure of the encapsulated 1D CuI crystals revealed two types of 1D CuI crystals with growth direction <001> and relative to the bulk hexagonal CuI structure. Atomic structure models were proposed based on the high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy images. According to the proposed models and image simulations, the main contrast in the 1D crystal images arises from the iodine atoms whereas copper atoms, with lower atomic number giving lower contrast, are thought to be statistically distributed.

The behaviour of 1D CuI crystal@SWNT nanocomposite under electron irradiation

Nanocomposite 1D CuI crystal@SWNT was obtained by the growth of CuI nanocrystals inside single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using the capillary technique. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigation of the atomic structure of 1D CuI crystals revealed two types of 1D CuI crystals: with growth direction and relative to the bulk hexagonal CuI stucture. EM images were recorded and atomic models of the structure were proposed. According to the proposed models and image simulations, the main contrast in the 1D crystal images arises from the iodine atoms. In this paper the 1D CuI crystal@SWNT nanocomposite behavior determined mainly by the influence of the electron beam was investigated and it is shown that the 1D CuI nanocrystals can oscillate and rotate inside the nanotube channel under a 100kV electron beam. The oscillations occur within an exposure time of 25 s. With longer exposure time of ∼90 s, the 1D crystal gradually decreases in length, sometimes moving inside...

HRTEM of 1DSnTe@SWNT nanocomposite located on thin layers of graphite

The method for imaging of highly sensitive nanostructures unstable under electron beam irradiation is introduced. To reduce charge and thermally generated beam damage, highly conductive multilayered graphene or thin graphite layers were used as supports for nanostructures. Well‐defined crystalline structure of graphite layers enables image reconstruction by Fourier filtering and allows maintaining high quality of images. The approach was tested for imaging of highly sensitive quasi one‐dimensional SnTe nanocrystals hosted inside single‐walled carbon nanotubes. Relying on the filtered images and the image simulation, the structure of one‐dimensional SnTe was established as a chain of fcc NaCl type unit cells, connected by the [001] edges with <110> direction coinciding with nanotube axis.

Study of one-dimensional crystal@single wall carbon nanotube nanocomposites using atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy

Abstract1DCuI@SWCNT nanocomposites have been studied by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) using the registration modes of large-angle scattered electrons and bright-field images in combination with the spectroscopy of electron energy losses. A new structure of a 1DCuI@SWCNT nanocomposite has been found. The results of the studies indicate that by using STEM modes it is necessary to obtain simultaneously both the images in a bright field and in high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging. Using the spectroscopy of electron energy losses, the formation of a chemical bond between Cu3d and C2pz states of an intercalated nanocrystal and nanotube with the corresponding transfer of the electron density ∼0.09 e/carbon atom has been shown.

The structure and electronic properties of copper iodide 1D nanocrystals within single walled carbon nanotubes

Copper iodide one-dimensional nanocrystals within single walled carbon nanotubes (1D CuI@SWCNTs), i.e. meta-nanotubes [1], were investigated by high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM). In meta-nanotubes of diameter Dm = 1.3-1.4 nm produced by arc-discharge (AD) method close-packed hexagonal or deformed cubic 1D crystal anion sublattices were observed with cations in octahedral or tetrahedral positions. These two sublattices reversibly transform to one another. In catalysed chemical vapour deposition (CCVD) meta-nanotubes of diameters Dm = 1.5-2.0 nm cubic anion sublattices are formed. For diameters ?2.0 nm three-dimensional (3D) crystallization is observed.

Diffusion of One-Dimensional Crystals in Channels of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The transport of one-dimensional CuI crystals in channels of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been studied by high resolution electron microscopy. The diffusion kinetics has been investigated by counting the number of CuI atoms escaping from the nanotube channel. The diffusivity is calculated to be 6.8 × 10–21 m2/s, which corresponds to an activation-barrier height of ~1 eV/atom. A comparison with the theoretically estimated height of the energy barrier for molecular transport through a graphene layer is indicative of mass transfer through vacancy defects in graphene.

Structure of One-Dimensional Rubidium and Silver Iodide Crystals in the Channels of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The structures of one-dimensional (1D) RbI, AgI, and RbAg4I5 crystals inside single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) channels of 1D crystal@SWCNT nanocomposites formed by the capillary technique have been studied by high-resolution (scanning) transmission electron microscopy and computer modeling. 1D RbI crystals form a cubic lattice in a limited space, while 1D AgI crystals form a hexagonal lattice, as in their ternary compounds. The 1D RbAg4I5 structure differs from known bulk analogs and can be described by a distorted cubic lattice formed in two different directions.