Metal nanowires and intercalated metal layers in single-walled carbon nanotube bundles

Nanowires of Au, Ag, Pt, and Pa (1.0-1.4nm diam) have been produced in the capillaries of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The nanowire is single;crystalline in some cases. Dispersions of the nanowires in alcohol show longitudinal plasmon absorption bands at different wavelengths, suggesting the presence of a distribution of aspect ratios. A novel phenomenon involving the intercalation of metal layers (similar to 0.5 nm thick) in the intertubular space of SWNT bundles has been observed. SWNTs decorated by metal nanoparticles are formed in some of the preparations.