Molecular Nanowires of 1 nm Diameter from Capillary Filling of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Molecular nanowires inside single-walled carbon nanotubes are produced by capillary filling. Bismuth was drawn into single-walled carbon nanotubes, where it formed single-crystal nanowires of nanometer dimensions. Metal was introduced in its gas, solution, and solid phases, with the solution phase process the most efficient and versatile method of filling. The majority of fillings are one-dimensional nanowires with high length to diameter ratios. The strong capillary effect in single-walled carbon nanotubes should allow these materials to host a wide variety of nanoscale materials.