材料期刊网

Property characterization of nanomaterials is challenged by the small size of the structure because of the difficulties in manipulation. Here we demonstrate a novel approach that allows a direct measurement of the mechanical properties of individual nanotube-like structures by in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The technique is powerful in a way that it can directly correlate the atomic-scale microstructure of the carbon nanotube with its physical properties, providing a one-to-one correspondence in structure-property characterization. Applications of the technique will be demonstrated on mechanical properties, the electron field emission and the ballistic quantum conductance in individual nanotubes.