Electron spectroscopy of single quantum objects to directly correlate the local structure to their electronic transport and optical properties

TL;DR

This study combines high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to directly link atomic structure variations in individual carbon nanotubes to their localized electronic and optical properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates a method to correlate atomic-scale structural irregularities with electronic and optical behaviors in single quantum objects.

Findings

Spectra vary across different regions of a single nanotube.

Local structural defects influence electronic transition energies.

Electronic properties are sensitive to atomic-level irregularities.

Abstract

Physical property of a single quantum object is governed by its precise atomic arrangement. The direct correlation of localized physical properties with the atomic structures has been therefore strongly desired but still limited in the theoretical studies. Here, we have successfully examined the localized electronic properties of individual carbon nanotubes by means of high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy combined with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Well-separated sharp peaks at the carbon K(1s) absorption edge and in the valence-loss spectra are obtained from a single freestanding carbon nanotube with the local chiral index and unambiguously identified as the transitions between the van Hove singularities. The spectra features clearly vary upon the different areas even in the individual carbon nanotube. Variations in interband transitions, plasmonic behaviors and unoccupied electronic structures are clearly attributed to the local irregular atomic arrangement such as topological defect and/or elastic bond stretching.