XRD and TEM study of high pressure treated single-walled carbon nanotubes and C60-peapods Original Research Article

In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements of single-walled carbon nanotube and C60-peapod samples under high pressures up to 13 GPa and at high temperature were carried out. Anisotropical shrinkages of their bundle two-dimensional lattices by compression at room temperature were observed. It was found that the lattices recover original forms reversibly upon pressure release. It was also found that irreversible phase transformations occur by raising temperature at the highest pressure. The high pressure and high temperature treated samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, and Raman measurements. It was indicated by transmission electron microscope observation that hexagonal diamond is able to be synthesized by high pressure and high temperature treatment of C60-peapods.