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Nanotubes

Strong bundles

The mechanical properties of nanotube bundles are limited by the sliding of individual nanotubes across each other. Introducing crosslinks between the nanotubes by electron irradiation prevents sliding, and leads to dramatic improvements in strength.

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Figure 1: Large (ten micrometre diameter) bundle consisting of hundreds of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes, synthesized by chemical vapour deposition12.

Reprinted with permission from Wei, B. Q. et al. Nanoletters 2, 1105–1107 (2002). Copyright (2002) American Chemical Society.

Figure 2

A. Krasheninnikov

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Ajayan, P., Banhart, F. Strong bundles. Nature Mater 3, 135–136 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1078

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