A CARBYNE OBSERVED IN A MARKETING MICROGRID

Thin film objects on the order of one micron width, whose contrast in the electron micrographs is distinctly different from the original microgrid, are frequently found in the transmission electron micrographs obtained from a marketing microgrid. The electron diffraction pattern of their films usually shows hexagonal symmetry, and a measured lattice constant is a(0) = 0.907 nm. The value is very close to the lattice constant of carbon VIII (a(0) = 0.9098 nm, c(0) = 1.482 nm), which is called one of carbyne. The electron diffraction spots disappear after a few minutes' irradiation by electron beam, and then many pits appear in the film. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis shows that the thin films are mainly composed of carbon, and sometimes of metals such as Si, Mg or Al, and oxygen.