Atomic-resolution three-dimensional force and damping maps of carbon nanotube peapods.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become a versatile and powerful method for imaging both insulating and conducting objects down to the atomic scale. By extending the high spatial resolution and sensitivity of AFM to the force spectroscopy dimension, oscillations of individual molecules can be studied with atomic resolution. Using three-dimensional mapping of the force and damping fields we address individual Dy@C(82) metallofullerene molecules confined inside single-walled carbon nanotubes (so-called metallofullerene peapods) and reveal their oscillatory behaviour via attractive interactions with the AFM probe tip.

Effects of charge impurities and laser energy on Raman spectra of graphene.

The position and width of the Raman G-line was analyzed for unintentionally doped single-layered graphene samples. Results indicate a significant heating of the monolayer by the laser beam. Moreover, a weak additional component was resolved in the G-band.

Atomically resolved mechanical response of individual metallofullerene molecules confined inside carbon nanotubes.

The hollow core inside a carbon nanotube can be used to confine single molecules and it is now possible to image the movement of such molecules inside nanotubes. To date, however, it has not been possible to control this motion, nor to detect the forces moving the molecules, despite experimental and theoretical evidence suggesting that almost friction-free motion might be possible inside the nanotubes. Here, we report on precise measurements of the mechanical responses of individual metallofullerene molecules (Dy@C82) confined inside single-walled carbon nanotubes to the atom at the tip of an atomic force microscope operated in dynamic mode.

Graphene-metal interface: two-terminal resistance of low-mobility graphene in high magnetic fields.

The two-terminal magnetotransport of a single graphene layer was investigated up to a field of 55 T. The dependence of the electron transmission probability at the organo-metallic interface between the graphene and the metal electrodes was studied as a function of filling factor and electron density. A resistance-plateau spanning several tens of tesla width was observed.