Vapor-grown atomic filaments of graphite

Field emission transmission electron microscopy has revealed the presence o f atomic filaments extending from the open edge of a graphite cage formed i n a glow-discharge plasma. The filaments are vapor grown, presenting compli cated deformations such as curling, waving, and looping in the free space. The filaments correspond well to one carbon atom in diameter, strongly indi cating that they are linear chains of carbon atoms, the presence of which w as earlier suggested by Smalley [Science 269, 1550 (1995)]. (C) 2000 Americ an Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)01302-4].