Existence of novel quasi-one-dimensional phases of atoms adsorbed on the exterior surface of close-ended single wall nanotube bundles - art. no. 206106

We present results of adsorption measurements for Xe and Ax which confirm e xperimentally the formation of one-dimensional phases for these gases when adsorbed on the outer surfaces of close-ended single-wall carbon nanotube ( SWNT) bundles. The existence of such phases had been predicted in recent co mputer simulations, but had remained, until the present work, unconfirmed. Experimental results for Xe and Ar on close-ended bundles of SWNT's are com pared to, and found in substantial quantitative agreement with, those obtai ned in the computer simulation studies. The characteristics of the phases f ormed appear to be strongly influenced by steric effects.