Abstract: Single-walled carbon nanotubes encapsulating C60 (peapods) C60@SWNTs have been successfully synthesized by a vapor diffusion method. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectrum indicate high-density C60 chains inside the nanotubes. The distance between two adjacent C60 molecules in SWNTs is a little different from that in face centered cubic (fcc) C60 crystal,which reveals that there is a weak van der Waals interaction between the nanotubes and the encapsulated fullerenes. Moreover, in situ e-beam irradiation in the electron microscope caused coalescence of the neighboring C60 molecules inside the SWNTs.

Key words: Single-walled carbon nanotubes, C₆₀@SWNTs, Peapods, Coalesce