Local lattice distortions in spherical carbon nanoparticles as studied by HRTEM image analysis

• Published in: Ultramicroscopy Vol. 92; no. 3; pp. 209 - 213
• Main Authors: Romeo, M, Arnault, J.C, Ehret, G, Banhart, F, Normand, F.Le
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Carbon aggregates; Clusters, nanoparticles, and nanocrystalline materials; Computers in experimental physics; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron, positron and ion microscopes, electron diffractometers and related techniques; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; HRTEM; Image analysis; Image processing; In situ electron irradiation; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Materials science; Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals; Physics; Specific materials; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; 61.46 Subject index terms: 001, 028, 041; 61.16.B; Image analysis; Carbon aggregates; 81.05.T; In situ electron irradiation; 07.05.P; 46.30; HRTEM; Nanoparticles; Spherical shape; Lattice distortion; High-voltage electron microscopy; Experimental study; Carbon; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 0304-3991; 1879-2723
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3991(02)00134-1

The study of lattice distortions in structures with spherical or cylindrical geometry is of growing interest in the field of carbon nanoparticles (onions, nanotubes, etc.). We report an image analysis procedure entirely performed in reciprocal space which provides a global map of the inter-shell distances in carbon nanoparticles. This procedure is applied to carbon nanoparticles with a size of 100 nm that are generated under CVD conditions and exhibit positive as well as negative curvature of the basal lattice planes. These nanoparticles are subjected to intense electron irradiation under the beam of a high-voltage electron microscope with an acceleration voltage of 1.25 MeV. We observe a compression in their centre and a dilation of the outer shells. The reciprocal-space analysis of the high-resolution electron microscopy images opens the way to investigate the stability and equilibrium structure of carbon nanoparticles and to conclude on the formation mechanism.