NanoSource is developing an Innovative Mechanosynthetic process converting graphene into carbon nanotubes.
The Mechanosynthesis of graphene allows for precise control as to chirality and diameter which determines the properties of the nanotubes
Nanotube diameter is Dtube
= 0.078 (n2 +
nm + m2)1/2
nanometers, where (n, m) is the "rollup vector" defined by the number
of steps required for a repeat pattern along two crystallographic cylinder wall
axes wherein the cohesive energy per atom required to curve a flat graphene sheet into
a cylinderis Erollup
= (13 zJ-nm2 /
Dtube2).
(1 zeptojoule (zJ) = 1021
joules.) As an example, a (10,10) nanotube has Dtube
= 1.36 nm and Erollup
= 7 zJ/atom. NanoSource has overcome the large amount of energy required to mechanical transform graphene into a carbon nanotube by implementing a self-zippering process using Mechanosynthesis processes.
