German researchers report a simple
electrical technique to divide
semiconducting and metallic nanotubes by using an electric field
to draw the more conductive metallic tubes to an electrode.

According to chemist Richard
Smalley of Rice University, the technique is long overdue and will find immediate use.

The technique is described in a paper published online by Science this week (www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/
abstract/1086534).