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A selection of nanotube images and movies from my research and that
of Philipe Lambin, created using povray.
If you are interested in
using these images please
contact me. Please don't use without permission. All images on this site are ©Chris
Ewels. Click on an image to see
a larger version, leave your mouse over an image for a description..
Note there are other fullerene and nanotube related images in the
gallery fantastic.
If you want to know what a carbon nanotube is there is information
and pictures
here.
- Gallery of nanotubes joined
by pentagons and heptagons
- MPEG movie of rotating around a carbon nanotube
(7.2MB)
- MPEG movie of rotating inside a carbon
nanotube (5.3MB)
- Quicktime movie of view down the axis of a carbon nanotube(5.4MB)
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Nanotube Bundles
Nanotubes are rarely on their own; instead they are attracted to each other and tend to form bundles.
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Inside the Test Chamber
One way of growing nanotubes is in a hot plasma gas which consists of a whirling mixture of Hydrogen, carbon and metal particles. As this hot soup of elements cools, carbon condenses around the particles of metal catalyst, forming carbon nanotubes. |
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Route to the Stars
Carbon nanotubes have strength many times that of steel yet have only one sixth
the weight. Some scientists are now suggesting a “space elevator” could
be built, a vast nanotube cable extending into space, along which spacecraft
of the future could pull themselves into orbit. |
There is more about the difference between graphite and nanotubes here.
Boron Nitride
It's also possible to make nanotubes out of boron nitride instead of carbon. They have the same structure as
carbon tubes with alternate carbon atoms replaced by either boron or nitrogen (they buckle a bit too). These tubes
have interesting properties and behave differently to carbon tubes - for a start they are extremely insulating - if
carbon nanotubes are molecular wires, boron nitride nanotubes are the molecular insulation.
Back to main image gallery.
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