Discrimination of B–C–N nanotubes through energy-filtering electron microscopy

Various multi-walled nanotubes in the B–C–N system are thoroughly investigated using a JEOL-3100FEF high-resolution field emission transmission electron microscope operating at 300 kV and equipped with an in-column built Omega filter. Spatially-resolved B, C and N elemental maps of the nanotubes are constructed. It is realized that a wide variety of tubular arrays composed of B, C and N atoms may exist in the system. Sandwich-like BN-rich and C-rich alternating tubular shells, graphitic C layers inside and outside of pure BN shells induced either by surface contamination, or electron beam irradiation, separation of C-rich and BN-rich tubes and/or BN particles within tubular bunches may take place. One should carefully take these effects into account while analyzing nanotube physical properties, e.g., electrical or optical, rather than simply rely on electron energy loss spectra typically collected from B, C and N containing nanostructures as a whole. Striking dependence of an individual nanotube electrical conductivity on tubular shell chemistry is demonstrated using I–V curve recording in an atomic force microscope.