In situ observations of self-repairing single-walled carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes are shown to have self-repairing capabilities exceeding that predicted by theory. Time-series aberration-corrected low-voltage transmission electron microscopy is used to study the defect dynamics of single-walled carbon nanotubes in situ. We confirm experimentally previous theoretical predictions for the agglomeration of adatoms forming protrusions and subsequent ejection. An explanation for the preferred destruction of smaller-diameter tubes is proposed. The complete healing of a ∼20-atom multivacancy in a nanotube wall is shown while theory only predicts the healing of much smaller holes.