9302353 Seraphin This project is concerned with the investigation of micron-long graphite fibers called nanotubes. These nanotubes exhibit a different shape compared to the initially observed spherical fullerenes such as C60. The objectives of this project are to study: 1) the correlation between morphology and yield of nanotubes and processing parameters by means of transmission electron microscopy; 2) the growth mechanism of the nanotubes with the aim to control the intricate balance of carbon hexagons and pentagons in the cylindrical geometry of the tubes and end pieces, and to tailor nanotubes of desired length-to-diameter ratio; and 3) stability and structural transformations of nanotubes under the electron beam and in-situ upon heating and cooling. This research will lay the foundations for the nanoscale engineering of the tubular carbon clusters. The project has technological importance with respect to the novel mechanical and electrical properties expected in properly designed nanotube-based materials. ***
