The Cs intercalation process in multi-walled C nanotubes was studied by means of cross-sectional scanning photo-emission microscopy. The Cs atoms initially deposited on the tips of aligned nanotubes diffused toward their roots. The Cs diffusion constant for the multi-walled nanotubes at room temperature was deduced from the Cs distribution measured along the axes of the tubes. A value of 2 x 10–12cm2/s was obtained, which was 7 orders of magnitude smaller than that in graphite; although the local atomic structure of an intercalated multi-walled nanotube was very similar to that of intercalated graphite.

S.Suzuki, Y.Watanabe, T.Ogino, S.Heun, L.Gregoratti, A.Barinov, B.Kaulich, M.Kiskinova, W.Zhu, C.Bower, O.Zhou: Journal of Applied Physics, 2002, 92[12], 7527-31