In situ spectroscopy has been used to obtain insight into the growth mechanisms of carbon nanotubes and the processes behind the extremely rapid growth that is observed for nanotubes grown on a local micro-scale heater. Studies of local heater growth will be presented and the dependence of the growth kinetics and morphology of the nanotubes on the growth conditions will be shown.  In the second part of the talk, studies of the mechanical properties of graphene membranes, carried out in collaboration with colleagues at Chalmers University, will be shown where the behaviour of membranes under electrostatic actuation will be presented and scanning probe microscopy and Raman spectroscopy has been used to gain insight into the graphene behavior. The studies allow the first determination of the bending rigidity of mono- and few-layer graphene.

Eleanor Campbell obtained her PhD from the University of Edinburgh (1985) and then spent over 20 years working in Germany (Freiburg University and Max Born Institute) and Sweden (Chair of Atomic and Molecular Physics at Gothenburg University) before returning to Edinburgh to take up the Chair of Physical Chemistry in 2007. She is currently also a guest professor in the Division of Quantum Phases and Devices at Konkuk University, Korea. Her research interests range from fundamental studies of the excited state properties of large molecules and clusters in the gas phase to studies of the growth, manipulation and characterization of carbon nanomaterials. She has published over 250 papers and serves/has served on the Editorial Boards of Applied Physics A, Chemical Physics Letters, EPJD and Nano.