Discussion Topic Posted for the NANOTUBE-99 Workshop:

This appears to be a true mystery in view of the following facts:

• Nanotubes, same as fullerenes, are characterized by the same type of sp² bonding as graphite.
• Graphite, when intercalated, becomes superconducting (albeit at very low tempeartures). Solid C₆₀, when intercalated, is superconducting well above 30 K. Electron-phonon coupling is responsible for superconductivity in these two systems.
• The vibrational spectrum of nanotubes in ropes contains the same high-frequency modes that cause superconductivity in solid C₆₀.
• Same as in graphite, intercalants have been observed to shift the Fermi level towards the Van-Hove singularities, causing a significant increase in the density of states and in the observed conductivity. In solid C₆₀ this increase/onset of conductivity has been accompanied by superconducting behavior.

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