Organization of single-walled nanotubes into macro-sized rectangularly shaped ribbons

We present here a graphite-helped self-organization method for the production of macroscopic ribbons constituted by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCN) assembled in organized structures. The approach is based on the recondensation of SWCNs dispersed in aqueous solutions and the final deposits consist of rectangular-shaped ribbons long up to some mm and rather large (up to some tens of mum). Raman, RHEED, EDAX, SEM ad STM analysis has been used to gain information about compositional, morphological and structural features of such unusual nanotube-based material. The resulting structure could be rationalized as a three-dimensional matrix where randomly distributed nanoflakes of turbostratic carbon fill the spacing between adjacent nanotube ropes and encompass nanotube mats. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.