MOS2 AS MICROTUBES

We report on the existence of MoS2 hollowed microtubes, several mm in lengths and less than 0.1 mu m wall thickness, grown from the vapor ph ase. Scanning electron microscopy studies reveal that instability of t hin weakly bonded sheets against folding causes the tube growth direct ly or indirectly beyond the formation of turbulent gas flow, Electron diffraction of a single tube wall proves a parallel growth mode of suc cessive layers while the crystal lattices of both tube walls are mutua lly rotated. A spiral growth mode is proposed. (C) 1996 American Insti tute of Physics.