The Formation of a Connection between Carbon Nanotubes in an Electron Beam

Crossing multiwalled carbon nanotubes are connected by irradiating the junction in a scanning electron microscope. The aggregation of hydrocarbons and successive transformation into amorphous carbon under the electron beam is used to solder nanotubes and to make a mechanical junction. Transmission electron microscopy is carried out to study the graphitization of the junction under further irradiation or annealing.