In situ electric-field-induced contrast imaging of electronic transport pathways in nanotube-polymer composites

Stephen Jesse; Michael A. Guillorn; Ilia N. Ivanov; Alexander A. Puretzky; Jane Y. Howe; Phillip F. Britt; David B. Geohegan

doi:10.1063/1.2220058

In situ electric-field-induced contrast imaging of electronic transport pathways in nanotube-polymer composites

Stephen Jesse, Michael A. Guillorn, Ilia N. Ivanov, Alexander A. Puretzky, Jane Y. Howe, Phillip F. Britt, David B. Geohegan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

An electric-field-induced contrast mechanism for scanning electron microscopy is reported which permits the visualization of embedded nanomaterials inside various matrices with high contrast and high definition. The high contrast is proposed to result from localized enhancement of secondary electron emission from the nanomaterials due to electric-field-induced changes in their work functions. By utilizing a stage that allows in situ current-voltage measurements inside a scanning electron microscope, single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded within polymethyl methacrylate films were visualized directly. In addition to the rapid assessment of nanotube dispersion within polymers, electric-field-induced contrast imaging enables the determination of percolation pathways. From the contrast in the images, the relative voltage at all points in the electron micrograph can be determined, providing a new mechanism to understand electronic percolation through nanoscale networks.

Original language	English
Article number	013114
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	89
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2220058
State	Published - 2006

Funding

This research was sponsored by NASA-Langley Research Center, the Laboratory-Directed Research and Development Program at ORNL, and the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT-Battelle, LLC.

Funders	Funder number
NASA-Langley Research Center
U.S. Department of Energy
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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abstract = "An electric-field-induced contrast mechanism for scanning electron microscopy is reported which permits the visualization of embedded nanomaterials inside various matrices with high contrast and high definition. The high contrast is proposed to result from localized enhancement of secondary electron emission from the nanomaterials due to electric-field-induced changes in their work functions. By utilizing a stage that allows in situ current-voltage measurements inside a scanning electron microscope, single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded within polymethyl methacrylate films were visualized directly. In addition to the rapid assessment of nanotube dispersion within polymers, electric-field-induced contrast imaging enables the determination of percolation pathways. From the contrast in the images, the relative voltage at all points in the electron micrograph can be determined, providing a new mechanism to understand electronic percolation through nanoscale networks.",

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AU - Britt, Phillip F.

AU - Geohegan, David B.

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AB - An electric-field-induced contrast mechanism for scanning electron microscopy is reported which permits the visualization of embedded nanomaterials inside various matrices with high contrast and high definition. The high contrast is proposed to result from localized enhancement of secondary electron emission from the nanomaterials due to electric-field-induced changes in their work functions. By utilizing a stage that allows in situ current-voltage measurements inside a scanning electron microscope, single-walled carbon nanotubes embedded within polymethyl methacrylate films were visualized directly. In addition to the rapid assessment of nanotube dispersion within polymers, electric-field-induced contrast imaging enables the determination of percolation pathways. From the contrast in the images, the relative voltage at all points in the electron micrograph can be determined, providing a new mechanism to understand electronic percolation through nanoscale networks.

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In situ electric-field-induced contrast imaging of electronic transport pathways in nanotube-polymer composites

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