Synthesis and structure of pristine and alkali-metal-intercalated single-walled carbon nanotubes

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(M=K or Cs). No crystalline structure was observed in the reacted materials by X-ray diffraction. In situ metal deposition, TEM, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements were performed on individual SWNT bundles at 300 K. The results showed that alkali metals can be reversibly intercalated into the SWNT bundles. Although intercalation induced structural disorder, individual nanotubes and to a large extent the bundles maintained their structural integrity after intercalation and de-intercalation.