Steaming multiwalled carbon nanotubes via acid vapour for controllable nanoengineering and the fabrication of carbon nanoflutes.

A new concept of steaming multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via acid vapour was presented for controllable nanoengineering of the MWCNTs. This method is more simple, effective, precisely-controllable and environmentally-friendly compared to traditional ones. Moreover, novel porous carbon nanotubes, named carbon nanoflutes, were fabricated based on this strategy. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011