IBM does carbon nanotubes better
Poster: Aron Schatz
Posted on September 30, 2002 at 3:04:41 PM
All this talk makes me wonder when we will see products that use this technology. IBM used Silicon instead of metal for the catalyst for making the tubes. This in turn made the tubes more 'pure' there is no metal atom bonded to the carbon.
Quote
In IBM's technique, the nanotubes are not damaged. Researchers take a crystal formed from layers of silicon and carbon and heat it to 1,650 degrees centigrade. The silicon evaporates, leaving an exposed layer of carbon. Because the carbon formerly was bonded to the silicon, it is freed to bond with another material. In this case, it bonds with itself, curling up to form a tube.