Surface structures of various nanoscale materials were studied in profile b
y high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. These materials include
carbon nanofibres containing polymerized carbon nanobells, boron carbonitr
ide nanofibres with a cactus-like surface structure, carbon nanotubes with
polymer coating, mesoporous molecular sieves with a paintbrush-like surface
and some nanoparticle specimens with interesting surfaces. The formation m
echanisms of the surface structures and the surface-related properties of t
he materials also are discussed. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.