Electrospinning has been used to prepare poly( vinyl alcohol) ( PVA) nanofibres, with diameters ranging from 1 mu m down to 20 nm, that contain dispersions of isolated, well-aligned, single-wall carbon nanotubes ( SWNTs). The nanofibres were characterized by electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Single Raman radial breathing modes ( RBMs) were found for the SWNTs in the nanofibres which allowed the identification of particular nanotubes and indicated debundling/separation of the original SWNT ropes. Moreover the results of polarized Raman spectroscopy were consistent with the presence of isolated SWNTs, well-aligned along the nanofibre axes. The nanofibres were subjected to deformation and the position of the G and G' bands was followed as a function of strain. It was found that large band shifts were obtained, indicating that there was good stress transfer from the PVA matrix to the nanotubes. A band shift of up to 40 cm(-1) for 1% strain was found for the G' band which is similar to that reported for the deformation of isolated nanotubes. This indicates that the Young's modulus of SWNTs is in excess of 800 GPa. ; ISI Document Delivery No.: 169KI Times Cited: 8 Cited Reference Count: 29 Kannan, Prabhakaran Eichhorn, Stephen J. Young, Robert J.