In situ transmission electron microscope studies on one-dimensional nanomaterials: Manipulation, properties and applications

摘要

The in situ manipulation and property investigation of individual one-dimensional (1-D) nanomaterials (such as nanowires, nanotubes and 1-D heterostructures) as well as the construction of nanodevices based on these nanomaterials that have potential vital applications have become the focus of researchers worldwide. In recent years, the studies on these nanostructures have mainly shifted to three aspects of in-situ manipulation, property investigation and application exploration. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) equipped with an atomic force microscope (AFM) or a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) holder, and a heating/cooling holder has already developed as the most advanced technology capable of implementing in situ manipulation on and probing physical properties of nano-objects. In this review, we will summarize the significant developments in regards to the on-demand manipulation, thermal, mechanical, and electrical property investigations of 1-D nanomaterials as well as exploring their applications in piezoelectrical devices, lithium ion batteries and field emission devices. The highlight here is that inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM), the thermal, mechanical and electrical transport data are acquired in real time with three-dimensional (3-D) manipulation on one particular nano-object and can thus reflect the dynamic morphological, structural and chemical changes of a given nanomaterial.