Simulation hints at diamondoid nanotubes

Computer simulations on the structures of carbon nanotubes by researchers at Pennsylvania State University indicate it is possible to create carbon fibers with mechanical strength comparable to that of diamond. In a paper published in the 17 September 2001 issue of Physical Review Letters, a tema led by Vincent Crespi reports that they discovered incredibly strong and stiff carbon tubes about 0.4 nanometers in diameter. "Based on our calculations, these new nanotubes are about 40 percent stronger than the other nanotubes formed using the same number of atoms," said Crespi. "In fact, the nanotubes we simulated may well be the stiffest one-dimensional systems possible."