In a discovery that could aid the development of molecular-scale electronic devices, researchers in Hong Kong have made tiny carbon nanotubes that exhibit superconductivity–a characteristic associated with the loss of electrical resistance.
The single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs)–cylinders of carbon with walls one-atom thick–have electronic properties that have intrigued researchers for years. Bundled into so-called ropes, these nanotubes have even demonstrated superconducting traits. Until now, however, no one has shown that an individual carbon nanotube can be a superconductor.