Light-induced instability of PbO-filled single-wall carbon nanotubes

摘要

We investigated single-wall carbon nanotubes filled with lead oxide, PbO, by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. It is concluded that PbO crystallizes in the orthorombic phase forming nanowires inside the nanotubes. The positions of the PbO Raman lines are downshifted as compared to the bulk material as a result of the reduced dimensionality. As a consequence of the filling, nanotubes become sensitive to the laser irradiation. At higher laser power densities, they oxidize and the free PbO nanowires are left in the sample. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.