Shielding nanowires and nanotubes with imogolite: a route to nanocables.

Kuc, Agnieszka; Heine, Thomas · Adv Mater · 2009

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

The use of an imogolite (aluminosilicate) sheath to protect a conducting core consisting of a carbon nanotube (CNT) or nanowire from mechanical and chemical attacks is proposed. The cross-sectional structure of such a nanocable is shown in the figure. The most stable CNT@ imogolite nanocable is calculated to have a tube-tube distance of 2.8 Å and an insertion energy of ca. 60 meV per carbon atom.