Carbon nanotubes: physics and applications

Abstract

We overview definitions, properties and applications of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs). We describe the CNTs lifecycle: starting with phases and requirements, going through the different synthesis methods, describing then the various purification techniques. The fundamentals of functionalization and the use of defects in CNTs are reviewed, in connection also to ion irradiation techniques. Metal oxides and other semiconducting 1D nanostructures are then considered, before entering the description of the main features of the present status of INFN-LNF research in nanoscience, focusing on CNTs, as well as on aluminium nitride NTs (AlN NTs). We conclude our review by illustrating device application criteria for many applications in different areas of the field of nanotechnology.

Effect of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Automotive and Aerospace Applications- Case Study

“…The properties of these nanostructures are so unique and enhanced that it is finding applications in various spheres of life -right from bio-medical to optical and to space applications [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] . Essentially two families of carbon nano tubes exist: SWNT or (single wall nano tubes), that are constituted by only one rectilinear tubular unity and the other MWNT (multi wall nanotubes}, that are constituted by a series of coaxial SWNT.…”

“…CNT lengths range from less than 100 nm to several centimeters, thereby bridging molecular and macroscopic scales. When considering the cross-sectional area of the CNT walls only, an elastic modulus approaching 1 Tpa and a tensile strength of 100 Gpa has been measured for individual MWNTs [3] . This strength is over 10-fold higher than any industrial fiber.…”

Interactions of ions with carbon nano-structures

“…Moreover, channeling through the interior of individual single-and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, possibly held in a matrix of some other material, has also been studied in great detail [11,14,15], with a view to possible applications in accelerator physics [13], or to explore processes in nanotubes analogous to those occurring during ion and molecule transport through nano-capillaries in solids [16,17,18]. While channeling through carbon nanotubes has been studied mostly theoretically so far, as reviewed in Refs.…”

“…While channeling through carbon nanotubes has been studied mostly theoretically so far, as reviewed in Refs. [11,14,15,12], a few developments have been reported very recently on the experimental side, demonstrating the feasibility of both ion- [19], and electron channeling through carbon nanotubes [20].…”

“…For ion channeling in the axial direction through structures made of carbon nanotubes at relativistically high energies (∼ 1 GeV), both classical and quantum ion trajectories have been investigated on the basis of Lindhard's continuum approximation for the strings of carbon atoms in the walls of individual carbon nanotubes [11,14,12]. Since the ion passage at such energies is practically instantaneous, electronic response of the target can be neglected, and such processes are perfectly suitable for detecting the atomic arrangements in carbon nano-structures.…”