Four-dimensional vibrational spectroscopy for nanoscale mapping of phonon dispersion in BN nanotubes.

ABSTRACT: Directly mapping local phonon dispersion in individual nanostructures can advance our understanding of their thermal, optical, and mechanical properties. However, this requires high detection sensitivity and combined spatial, energy and momentum resolutions, thus has been elusive. Here, we demonstrate a four-dimensional electron energy loss spectroscopy technique, and present position-dependent phonon dispersion measurements in individual boron nitride nanotubes. By scanning the electron beam in real space while monitoring both the energy loss and the momentum transfer, we are able to reveal position- and momentum-dependent lattice vibrations at nanometer scale. Our measurements show that the phonon dispersion of multi-walled nanotubes is locally close to hexagonal-boron nitride crystals.

SUBMITTER: Qi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7896073 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature