MANIPULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CARBON NANOTUBES AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH SURFACES

We demonstrate that the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) can be used to control the shape and position of individual multiwalled carb on nanotubes dispersed on a surface. Specifically we can bend, straigh ten, translate. rotate, and-under certain conditions-cut nanotubes. Su ch manipulations are feasible due to the interaction between nanotubes and the substrate, which can stabilize highly strained nanotube confi gurations. Direct evidence for this interaction is provided by the stu dy of elastic distortions of tubes interacting with other tubes and th e substrate, From the observed deformations of nanotubes with 100 Angs trom diameter. For example, we obtain a binding energy of 0.8 +/- 0.3 eV/Angstrom. This interaction forces nanotubes to conform to the struc ture of the substrate, and the resulting distortions should induce cor responding changes in their electronic structure and electrical transp ort properties.