Coiling-chirality changes in carbon microcoils obtained by catalyzed pyrolysis of acetylene and its mechanism

As can be seen in the double helix of DNA, the single helix of proteins, etc., the three-dimensional (3D) helical/spiral structure is a fundamental structure of living things, and affords them critical functionalities. Helically coiled carbon fibers, which usually take the peculiar form of either a microcoil or a helix or twisted form, referred to as "carbon microcoils hereafter," are of great interest due to their novel functionality and various potential applications. They can potentially be used in electromagnetic absorbers and/or filters, 3D composites, smart tunable electrical devices, microsensors, chiral catalysts, etc. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.