Radial thermal expansion of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles at low temperatures

Abstract

For the first time, the linear coefficient of radial thermal expansion is measured on a system of carbon single-walled nanotube (SWNT) bundles at low temperatures (2.2–120K). The measurements are performed using a dilatometer with a sensitivity of 2×10−9cm. A cylindrical sample 7mm high and 10mm in diameter was obtained by compressing powder. The resulting bundles of nanotubes are oriented perpendicular to the sample axis. The starting powder consisted of over 90% SWNTs with outer diameter 1.1nm, the length varying in the range 5–30μm. A change of sign of the radial thermal expansion coefficient at 5.5K is observed.