Couldn't you just rub two pieces of graphene-coated scotch tape together and get rolled up carbon nanotubes?
-- JesusHChrist, May 16 2011

?
-- daseva, May 16 2011


I done get it.
-- DrWorm, May 16 2011


hmm let me take a stab at it.

Graphene is produced every time you use a modern non-lead pencil.
It's like Fullerene but fairly useless as is. Fullerene nano tubes sometimes occur naturally around lightning strikes if conditions are correct (I covered some of this in my Fullerene Fulgerites idea) and pulling scotch tape creates a current as well as x-rays.
Therefore (ooh I got to use 'therefore') therefore graphite coated tape might do something similar since a large charge is not needed to create fulgerites.

I think you might be on to something [JHC] but the missing component is the pressence of an inert gas such as argon. From what I read I gathered that oxygen would kill any attempt at making nano tubes this way. (+)
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 16 2011


If I remember correctly, a graphene monolayer is deposited on Sellotape when it is applied to, then removed from, sheet of graphite. I think this is what [JHC] is referring to. If you rubbed two such coated pieces of tape together, though, I don't think the graphene layers would roll up into tubes.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, May 16 2011


We'd tell you.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, May 16 2011


There are lots of potential spindlers. Someone should make a list.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, May 16 2011



random, halfbakery