Structural Analysis of Collapsed, and Twisted and Collapsed, Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes by Atomic Force Microscopy

Min-Feng Yu, Tomasz Kowalewski, and Rodney S. Ruoff
Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 87 – Published 1 January 2001
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Abstract

A fully collapsed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT1) section and a different twisted and fully collapsed MWCNT were observed with tapping-mode atomic force microscopy. The collapsed section of MWCNT1 was significantly more flexible than the uncollapsed sections, and advanced 120 nm within 1 month. The collapse of MWCNT1 was most likely initiated by its interaction with the surface, and possibly a water meniscus. The ability of carbon nanotubes to radially deform under the influence of surface interactions is in striking contrast with their extremely high axial rigidity.

  • Received 16 May 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.87

©2001 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Min-Feng Yu1, Tomasz Kowalewski2,*, and Rodney S. Ruoff1,†

  • 1Department of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
  • 2Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130

  • *Electronic address: tomek@andrew.cmu.edu
  • Electronic address: r-ruoff@northwestern.edu

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Vol. 86, Iss. 1 — 1 January 2001

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