Vapor-grown atomic filaments of graphite

Field emission transmission electron microscopy has revealed the presence of atomic filaments extending from the open edge of a graphite cage formed in a glow-discharge plasma. The filaments are vapor grown, presenting complicated deformations such as curling, waving, and looping in the free space. The filaments correspond well to one carbon atom in diameter, strongly indicating that they are linear chains of carbon atoms, the presence of which was earlier suggested by Smalley et al. [Science 269, 1550 (1995)].