Polyhedral nano- and microstructures with shapes of faceted needles, rods, rings, barrels, and double-tipped pyramids, which we call graphite polyhedral crystals (GPCs), have been discovered. They were found in pores of glassy carbon. They have nanotube cores and graphite faces, and they can exhibit unusual sevenfold, ninefold, or more complex axial symmetry. Although some are giant radially extended nanotubes, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy suggest GPCs have a degree of perfection higher than in multiwall nanotubes of similar size. The crystals are up to 1 micrometer in cross section and 5 micrometers in length, and they can probably be grown in much larger sizes. Preliminary results suggest a high electrical conductivity, strength, and chemical stability of GPC.

No abstract

No abstract

The energy and momentum conservation laws prohibit positron–electron single-photon annihilation in vacuum. It is shown that the situation is different in a single crystal with one of the leptons (e.g. positron) moving in the channeling (or in the quasi-channeling) mode. The transverse motion of an oriented or channeled particle may sharply increase the probability of the single-photon annihilation process.

Etching studies of KCl crystals doped with Ca2+ are carried out. These solution-grown crystals contained 1.44 & 0.02 weight percent calcium as estimated by EDTA titration. Establishing the etchants that attack at the sites of dislocations, and at sites other than those of dislocations, and comparing this etching behaviour with that of pure KCI crystals, it is shown that non-dislocation etch pits are at the sites of Ca2+ ions.