Radial thermal expansion of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles at low temperatures.

• For the first time, the linear coefficient of radial thermal expansion is measured on a system of carbon single-walled nanotube (SWNT) bundles at low temperatures (2.2–120 K). The measurements are performed using a dilatometer with a sensitivity of 2×10−9 cm. A cylindrical sample 7 mm high and 10 mm in diameter was obtained by compressing powder. The resulting bundles of nanotubes are oriented perpendicular to the sample axis. The starting powder consisted of over 90% SWNTs with outer diameter 1.1 nm, the length varying in the range 5–30 µm. A change of sign of the radial thermal expansion coefficient at 5.5 K is observed.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Carbon nanotubes

Single walled carbon nanotubes

SWNT

thermal expansion

radial expansion

low temperatures

Condensed matter physics

Kondenserade materiens fysik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)