Structure and mechanical flexibility of carbon nanotube ribbons: An atomic-force microscopy study

Collapsed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sections and segments (carbon nanotube ribbons) on surfaces were observed by atomic-force microscopy. The collapsed form of these MWCNTs allowed the determination of the layer number and the inner and outer diameters for their uncollapsed form. The results show that such carbon nanotube ribbons are extremely flexible and readily conform to the underlying substrate morphology. The formation of the collapsed form of these nanotubes is consistent with recent theoretical analysis on the mechanics of nanotubes.