Carbon Nanotubes

BY JOSH BOWN

Discovery of CNTs

Japanese physicist Sumio Iijima

discovered CNTs while studying
C60, using electric arc discharge.

Sumio made this discovery in

1991.

Types of CNTs

Single walled CNTs (SWCNT)consist of a single rolled sheet

of graphene.

Multi walled CNTs (MWCNT)consist of multiple layers of

rolled graphene sheets, or a
single sheet rolled and
overlapping itself.

Structure of CNTs

CNTs have different structures that determine their electrical

properties.

Armchair- Straight up and down

hexagonal lattice. Has metallic
properties and are very
conductive.

Zig zag- diagonal hexagonal

lattice. Has semiconducting
properties.

Chiral- Slanted hexagonal lattice.

Has semiconducting properties.

What makes CNTs so special?

Strength- CNTs are the strongest and stiffest materials yet

discovered in terms of tensile strength.

Hardness- CNTs have a hardness that is greater than diamond.

Flexibility- CNTs can be bent and folded in many different ways

without breaking.

Conductivity- CNTs are also highly conductive and are capable of

ballistic electron transport, which means electrons can travel
through the nanotube with very little resistance.

Size- CNTs are very small. They are 1 nanometer in diameter

and can only be seen using extremely powerful microscopes.

Future applications of CNTs

NASA is putting a lot of research into

CNTs.

They hope to use CNTs in their space

instruments and telescopes to reduce
light reflection.

NASA grows CNTs using chemical

vapor deposition (CVD).

The nanotubes they grow are ten

times darker than the black paint they
are currently using, making them good
for absorbing light and reducing
reflection.

Fundamental Concept- Graphene

Graphene was discovered by two scientists using ordinary scotch

tape and a graphite stone.

Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of graphite and it is the

material that makes up a CNT.

Graphene is the first two dimensional material ever discovered

and its unique properties are what make CNTs so strong and
versatile.

Graphene is transparent; it is the thinnest and lightest material

ever obtained and also the strongest.

Graphene can take any form and it conducts electricity much

better than traditional copper.

Sources

Philosophical Transactions: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences Vol. 362, No. 1823, Nanotechnology
of Carbon and Related Materials (Oct. 15, 2004), pp. 2223-2238.

http://www.jstor.org.dbprox.slcc.edu/stable/4142440?seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents

Rivas, Gustavo A. Carbon Nanotubes : A New Alternative For Electrochemical Sensors. New York: Nova Science,
2009. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 25 Mar. 2015.

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM0MDE0Ml9fQU41?sid=97ca5
6f2-6a2f-4835-9c00-2685a4a15d38@sessionmgr4005&vid=1&format=EB&rid=10

Chakraborty, Amit K., et al. "Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth Of Carbon Nanotubes On Si
substrates Using Fe Catalyst: What Happens At The Nanotube/Fe/Si Interface." Journal Of Applied Physics 100.8
(2006): 084321. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.

http://
web.a.ebscohost.com.dbprox.slcc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=1d878a20-e568-4b73-8f32-a4999e8dc3d5%
40sessionmgr4002&vid=13&hid=4212

Boothroyd, David, Carbon nanotubes find real world applications. newelecronics.co.uk

http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-technology/carbon-nanotubes-find-real-world-applications/58278/

Manchester 1824, The university of Manchester, The home of graphene. graphene.manchester.ac.uk.

http://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/contact.php

IIjima, Sumio, The discovery of carbon nanotubes guided by serendipity. nec.com

http://www.nec.com/en/global/rd/innovative/cnt/01.html

E-portfolio website

Jbowneportfolio.weebly.com