|
ALL MOLECULAR GRAPHICS: carbon nanotube![]() (above) nanotube image #1.Carbon nanotubes: consist many carbon atoms arranged in a tube. The carbon atoms are arrayed in a hexagonal lattice similar to the atomic sheets (graphene) in the carbon allotrope graphite. Nanotubes are capped by a hemispherical array of carbon atoms (as seen in Buckminsterfullerene). Nanotubes can form nested structures with greater diameter tubes containing lesser diameter tubes. Nanotubes have great strength and can be excellent electrical conductors or semi-conductors. The images here are of a single walled nanotube (SWNT). The carbon atoms are shown as spheres drawn at their covalent radius (i.e. just touching). #1 shows the carbon atoms as pearlescent spheres and various other treatments are shown further down the page. Images on thie page are 500 pixels across, the originals are 4096 pixels across. ![]() (above) nanotube image #2.![]() (above) nanotube image #3.![]() (above) nanotube image #4.![]() (above) nanotube image #5.![]() (above) nanotube image #6.![]() ![]() (above) nanotube image #7. |