title: Structural Analysis of Collapsed, and Twisted and Collapsed, Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes by Atomic Force Microscopy.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130.
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kowalewski
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ruoff