Abstract
Boron nitride nanotubes filled with magnesium oxides
[
MgO
,
MgO
2
]
and/or hydroxide
[
Mg
(
OH
)
2
]
are electrically probed and delicately manipulated inside a
300
kV
JEOL-3000F high-resolution transmission analytical electron microscope equipped with a side-entry "Nanofactory Instruments" piezoholder. At a low bias the nanotubes demonstrate truly insulating behavior. At a high bias of
±
30
V
they show reversible breakdown current of several dozens of nA. Under
300
kV
electron beam irradiation the nanotubes are positively charged that allows us to perform on-demand manipulation with them through tuning of polarity and/or value of a bias voltage on a gold counterelectrode from
−
140
to
+
140
V
, owing to the prominent electrostatic nanotube-electrode interactions.