Creation of Individual Vacancies in Carbon Nanotubes by Using an Electron Beam of 1 Å Diameter

The focused electron beam of an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope is used to create individual vacancies in predefined positions of carbon nanotubes. Vacancies in single-wall tubes are unstable and cause an immediate reconstruction of the lattice between 20 and 700 degrees C. In double-wall tubes, vacancies are stable and observable up to at least 235 degrees C, whereas above 480 degrees C a relaxation of the lattice occurs.