Carbon nanotube air-bubble interactions studied by atomic force microscopy

Interaction forces between a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and an air-bubble in pure deionized water and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) solutions were measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The MWCNT terminated probe was brought into contact with the bubble at controlled applied forces. The repulsive steps followed by attractive jumps recorded in the approach force curves correspond to changes in the MWCNT diameter along its length, an observation confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data. By processing the retraction part of the force curves obtained in pure water it is possible to estimate the end diameter of the carbon nanotube with nanometer resolution using a capillary force model.