Effect of crystalline filling on the mechanical response of carbon nanotubes

The electrical and mechanical properties of the same hybrid carbon nanotube before and after removal of the core Ga-doped ZnS semiconductor filling have been analysed inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM) using a conductive atomic force microscope – TEM system. It is found that the encapsulated material can substantially change the mechanical response of the turbostratic carbon tube container. Furthermore, because the extent of filling is operator-controlled, this provides a simple way to change on-demand the stiffness of hybrid carbon nanotubes.