Customizable, Self-assembling Nanotubes

from the make-them-your-way dept.
Mr_Farlops writes "Purdue chemists have learned to create nanotubes with compete control over how the tubes form. This allows the chemist to customize and build tubes to order and will greatly expand the materials available for use on the nanoscale. 'We have found that the nanotubes promote their own formation,' said Hicham Fenniri, head chemist of the Purdue team. 'Such behavior is very reminiscent of living systems, in that they replicate and adapt to their environment.'" This work extends the initial report on self-assembling rosette nanotubes (see Nanodot March 19, 2002).