Subash Sharma Mohamad Saufi Rosmi Yazid Yaakob Mohd Zamri Mohd Yusop Golap Kalitaa Masashi Kitazawa Masaki Tanemura
In this work, we utilize Joule heating to convert Pt-embedded amorphous carbon nanofiber (CNF) to multiwall carbon nanotube (CNT) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The transformation process of Pt-embedded amorphous CNF to multiwall CNT and nano-soldering process using Pt encapsulated CNT was investigated in TEM in detail. Molten Pt-encapsulated inside CNF and CNT always flowed towards the anode, proving electromigration to be the dominant force over thermal migration. Controllable electromigration of Pt was utilized to connect the Pt-included CNT to another CNT, thus forming a seamlessly welded CNT structure. Further, two separate CNF were brought together to form Y-contact which was transformed into Y-junction CNT structure by controlled electromigration of Pt. Changes in morphology and electrical property during CNT formation and nano-soldering were probed in real time with high resolution TEM. Our method provides a procedure for the position control synthesis of CNT and its nano-soldering which can be an important step for future development of a CNT based nanoelectrical circuit.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622318301611