In‐Situ Fabrication of Freestanding Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube–Silicate Composite Hex Nuts

Freestanding “hex nuts” composed of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)–silicate composite (see Figure) have been fabricated from mats of silica-coated SWNTs using a novel dissolution/regrowth process. This approach simultaneously generates large numbers of composites with well-defined shapes and uniform dimensions. Discrete steps of this fabrication process are discussed.