Bundle structure and sliding of single-walled carbon nanotubes observed by frictional-force microscopy

The bundle structure and the sliding of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been observed by frictional-force microscopy. The diameter of the nanotube and the nearest distance between any two nanotubes were estimated to be 1.4 and 0.3 nm, respectively. The frictional force required to move SWNTs on a KCl(001) surface and its energy dissipation were estimated to be 11 nN and ${\text{0.75×10}}^{\text{−16}} \mathrm{J},$ respectively.