NEW CARBON TUBELITE-ORDERED FILM STRUCTURE OF MULTILAYER NANOTUBES

Using electron beam evaporation of graphite for covering the surface of Si substrates we obtained multilayer Iidjima tubules standing close to each other. Electron microscopy shows that the new material consists mainly of hollow tubes 10-20 nm in diameter oriented along the same direction at some angle to the film surface. Small inclusions of thin tubes 4-5 nm in diameter are observed also, the diameter of the inner shell coincides with that of C-60 fullerene. All tubes' tops are closed by conical and dome caps in analogy with tubules, prepared by the are method. The synthesis of an ordered carbon nanotube structure in the form of films opens perspectives of an extensive study of properties and applications of unique nanotubes in chemistry, optics, micro- and nanoelectronics, as well as in the production of a new type of nanotube crystals and composites.