Mapping of individual carbon nanotubes in polymer/nanotube composites using electrostatic force microscopy

The authors demonstrate the use of electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) as a noninvasive tool for mapping individual single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in spin cast polymer/SWCNT composites. The authors obtain the distribution of lengths and orientations of nanotubes in a poly-(methylmethacrylate)/SWCNT composite. By correlating the measured EFM amplitude with its dependence on SWCNT length and tip-tube separation they show that the technique can be used for mapping the three dimensional position of the SWCNTs in the polymer matrix. Finally the limitations of the technique are discussed. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.