Determination of the length of single-walled carbon nanotubes by scanning electron microscopy

A methodology is presented to determine the length of well individualized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Accurate measurements on wide areas of the sample can be achieved in an easy, fast and trustworthy manner. We have tested several supports...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sandoval, Stefania|||0000-0002-0050-7501, Kierkowicz, Magdalena, Pach, Elzbieta|||0000-0001-9587-3768, Ballesteros, Belén|||0000-0002-1958-8911, Tobias, Gerard|||0000-0001-7116-2152
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:204835
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/204835
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.mex.2018.11.004
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Dispersion
Length distribution
Shortening
Cutting
Atomic force microscopy
Descripción
Sumario:A methodology is presented to determine the length of well individualized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Accurate measurements on wide areas of the sample can be achieved in an easy, fast and trustworthy manner. We have tested several supports and solvents to optimize the dispersion of SWCNTs, as well as the SEM imaging conditions. The optimal methodology goes via dispersion of the sample in ortho-dichlorobenzene, deposition onto a continuous carbon film supported on a copper TEM grid, and SEM imaging at 2 kV in secondary electrons mode using a through-in-lens detector. • Individualization of SWCNTs is achieved by dispersion of SWCNTs in ortho-dichlorobenzene and deposition onto TEM grids• Individual SWCNTs are imaged by SEM• Length determination by SEM is as precise as AFM