ABSTRACT
An experimental technique has been developed in order to study individual carbon nanotubes using angular-resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (AREELS). With this technique, AREELS spectra are acquired from individual multi-walled carbon nanotubes in two different scattering directions with respect to the tube axis. The spectra in each direction indicate the graphitic nature of multi-walled carbon nanotube. The π plasmon peak observed in the direction perpendicular to the axis may reflect the quantization of wave function around the tube. The reduction of noise and other artefacts, to a level as low as shot noise, appears to be sufficient for quantitative analysis.
