Harnessing the divas of the nanoworld
Monday, January 18, 2010 - 22:14
in Physics & Chemistry
Boron nitride nanotubes have been notoriously difficult to grow, requiring special instrumentation, dangerous chemistry, or temperatures of over 1,500 degrees Celsius to assemble. As it turns out, they just needed a little encouragement. Now, physicists have created virtual Persian carpets of the tiny fibers on substrates made from simple catalysts.