Electron microscopy of single molecules

We report on the imaging of single C-60 molecules adsorbed on the surface of carbon nanotubes. In the course of the work, the efficacy of carbon nanotubes as substrates for the high signal-to-noise observation of molecules is examined. The stability of nanotubes as a function of temperature, chemical environment and irradiation environment is explored. Carbon nanotubes are found to have a threshold energy for ballistic irradiation damage of approximately 85 keV. Finally, the use of nanotubes as in-situ reaction chambers and for other in-situ experimentation is demonstrated.