Scanning tunneling microscopy of single-shell nanotubes of carbon

Abstract
Single‐shell nanotubes of carbon were produced by vapor‐phase condensation on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Atomic‐resolution images were obtained using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The nanotubes are 1 nm wide and up to 20 nm long. The atomic structure of a zigzag configured tube is identified. A C60 hemisphere with threefold symmetry could be the nucleation seed for its growth.