MoS2 as microtubes

We report on the existence of MoS2 hollowed microtubes, several mm in lengths and less than 0.1 mu m wall thickness, grown from the vapor phase. Scanning electron microscopy studies reveal that instability of thin weakly bonded sheets against folding causes the tube growth directly or indirectly beyond the formation of turbulent gas flow, Electron diffraction of a single tube wall proves a parallel growth mode of successive layers while the crystal lattices of both tube walls are mutually rotated. A spiral growth mode is proposed. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.