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IMAGE: A model of the zigzag carbon nanobelt (with a magnification of 50 million) produced by a 3D printer at the Equipment Development Center, Institute for Molecular Science. view more
Credit: NINS/IMS
The current method of manufacturing carbon nanotubes in essence rolled up sheets of graphene is unable to allow complete control over their diameter, length and type. This problem has recently been solved for two of the three different types of nanotubes, but the third type, known as zigzag nanotubes, had remained out of reach. Researchers with Japan s National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) have now figured out how to synthesize the zigzag variety.