Atomic-size Silver Nanotube

The atomic arrangement of nanosystems may be quite different from the traditional materials; surface energy minimization plays a dominant role in this size range, and accounts for many of these new structures. Graphitic nanotubes [1] represent the best example, being fromed by a rolled the graphitic layer, which is tradionally flat. Subsequently the rolling of the compact (111) atomic planes was reported for gold nanowires (NW) generated by mechanical stretching [2]. But, we may expect many more surprises from the interplay between atomic and electronic structure.