Metal nanoparticles, nanowires, and carbon nanotubes

The size-dependent metal to nonmetal transition in metal nanoparticles has been investigated using photoelectron and tunneling spectroscopic technique s. Metal nanoparticles capped by thiols are shown to organize into ordered 2D and 3D structures. Single-walled nanotubes and aligned carbon nanotube b undles have been synthesized by controlling the size of metal nanoparticles produced in situ during the pyrolysis of precursors. Nanowires of gold and other metals have been produced in the capillaries of the single-walled na notubes.