Manipulations of Nanoparticle Chain Aggregates in Transmission Electron Microscopy

摘要

We have developed a nanostructure manipulation device (NSMD) to apply tension to a single nanoparticle chain aggregate (NCA) mounted in a transmission electron microscope. The system was used for studying stretching and contraction of carbon chain aggregates. Carbon NCAs generated by laser ablation of a graphite target were stretched and bent using the NSMD. The NCA was stretched up to 310% of its initial length before becoming taut and then breaking. The broken NCA contracted rapidly showing its elastic behavior. The NCA was plastically deformed during stretching through unraveling of kinks along the NCA. However, the unraveling was irreversible so that the chain formed a loop with a big curvature as its two ends were brought closer together.