| Abstract
| - Ni and Cu microtubules of several centimeters in length can be easily prepared using anew method herewith by the pyrolysis of composite fibers consisting of a poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) core fiber and an electroless-plated metal skin layer. Through the useof this approach, the diameter, wall-thickness, and length of metal microtubules can beconveniently controlled. Various analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electron paramagneticresonance, were used to characterize the resultant metal microtubules. The results indicatedthat the Ni microtubules essentially consist of single crystalline fcc-Ni, with the normal ofthe {110} planes being parallel to the direction of the tube axis, whereas the resultant Cumicrotubules are polycrystalline. The respective conductivities for the resultant Ni and Cumicrotubules were 1.22 × 105 (±20%) S/cm and >1.58 × 105 (±25%) S/cm, quite similar tothose of pure metals. Most interestingly, this method also provides a feasible approach forthe preparation of two- or three-dimensional well-organized metal microtubular assembliesfrom suitable woven fabrics or structures.
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