Method of forming nanotubes

Abstract

Methods for the formation of nanotube from thin films are provided. The methods involve the adsorption of atoms to the surface of the films. The adsorbed atoms introduce surface stress, inducing a curvature in the films. The curvature is sufficient to bring atoms at the edges into sufficiently close proximity to form covalent bonds. Other methods include the step of desorbing the atoms from the surface of the film. The films may comprise a variety of nanomaterials, including graphene sheets and semiconductor thin films.

1 . A method for forming a nanotube from one or more thin films, the method comprising adsorbing atoms onto a surface of at least one of the one or more thin films, wherein the absorbed atoms produce a curvature in the at least one thin film sufficient to bring atoms at the edges of the one or more thin films into close proximity and further wherein bonds form between the atoms at the edges of the one or more thin films to provide a nanotube. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising desorbing the adsorbed atoms. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more thin films are a single atom thick. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more thin films are graphene sheets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the width of the one or more graphene sheets is about 1 to about 10 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more thin films are about 5 to about 10 atoms thick. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more thin films are semiconductor thin films. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the atoms are selected from the group consisting of H atoms, F atoms, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adsorption provides a surface coverage of adsorbed atoms in the range of about 40% to 60%. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanotube is formed from a single thin film and the covalent bonds form between the atoms at opposite edges of the thin film to provide the nanotube. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanotube is formed from a plurality of thin films and the covalent bonds form between the atoms at the edges of different thin films to provide the nanotube. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nanotube is formed from a first thin film and a second thin film and the covalent bonds form between a first edge of the first thin film and the first edge of the second thin film and between a second edge of the first thin film and a second edge of the second thin film.