Carbon Nanotubes Carbon nanotubes Cylinders and ropes from 0.8 nm to 50 nm in diameter, to many microns in length. These are TEM images. The lower right shows how single-wall tubes tend to form bundles or ropes. All these modifications were performed by the NanoManipulator, with the user guiding the AFM tip by moving the Phantom force-feedback pen.
Small bends have periodic ripples, which are reversible.
They move along tubes freely depending on the location of the bend. Large bends form a kink with a height larger than expected and form a weak spot that tends to kink again. Side view of a bend, showing periodic ripples nearest, and kinks further away. Two tubes moved over the same patch of graphite - their orientations are maintained through the collision. Helicity of the tube determines its lock-in orientation with the graphite substrate.