Single-turn GaAs/InAs nanotubes fabricated using the supercritical CO ₂ drying technique

We have applied supercritical CO₂ drying technique to fabricate free-standing semiconductor nanotubes, in order to solve the problem of tube collapsing caused by the capillary forces in the final drying process. We have successfully fabricated damage-free single-turn nanotubes with ultra-thin walls (lesser than 3 nm) and very high tube-length/wall-thickness ratios (higher than 103), which so far could not been realized. These extremely small and light structures with unique geometry are promising for future nanoelectromechanical systems.