Abstract
A dynamical response of the current-voltage characteristics of ropes and individual structures of multiwalled nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes has been observed inside a transmission electron microscope. The drastic change of the current transport properties is thought to be due to purging of contaminating gaseous surface adsorbed species. In addition, an
in situ
methodology was developed to obtain individually pure and length-tailored nanotubes. By carefully controlling the current flow across the nanotubes, residual surface-decorating and encapsulated catalyst particles were eliminated, and short sections of the nanotubes
(
200
to
500
nm
)
were cut.