INNOVATION:  Scientists at UCLA have successfully produced significant amounts of nanowires within single-walled carbon nanotubes. The single-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by various methods and filled with materials from the gas, solution, or solid phases. Length-to-diameter ratios on the order of hundreds have been achieved.

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:  Filled carbon nanotubes are expected to have a major impact in the nanotechnology area. The strong capillary effect in single-walled nanotubes should allow them to host a wide variety of nanoscale materials. This opens the opportunity for synthesis of filled nanotubes with novel electrical, superconducting, optical, and magnetic properties.

ADVANTAGES:  Filled nanotubes are more stable than unfilled nanotubes and may be separated based on their distinct chemical or physical properties. Single-walled nanotubes, in particular, can be made with a narrow size distribution and are thermally and chemically stable, hence, they are ideal nanoscale templates.

Reference: UCLA Case No. 1999-258

US Patent: 7,112,315