Graphitic tube formation by flush discharge with Ga observed in amorphous carbon pillar

Here we report a unique technique in which the flash motion of Ga transformed an amorphous carbon pillar into a graphitic tube while maintaining its original shape. An instantaneous current flow through the pillar quickly heated up the Ga that was originally included into the amorphous carbon pillar fabricated with focused-ion-beam induced chemical-vapor deposition (FIB-CVD), and the Ga dug out a tunnel inside the pillar transforming it simultaneously into a multi-walled graphitic tube that contained recondensed Ga liquid like a mercury thermometer.