User:Eiad Jandali/Sandbox

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Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrically shaped sheets of carbon, typically existing as the allotrope graphite. Carbon nanotubes are generally divided into two categories, single-walled and multi-walled, sue to their differing properties. Due to their unique molecular structuring, CNTs exhibit unique properties in material sciences and electronics that is the topic of recent on-going research. [2] Carbon nanotubes are currently being explored as an emerging technology in numerous fields such as electronics, optics, materials uses, and medicine. In addition to research regarding applications is the research being done to improve production of carbon nanotubes to include more precision and higher volumes of productions on a large scale. Development of “ultra-long” carbon nanotubes with extremely high length-to-diameter ratios is being researched due to their potential to greatly increase the applications of CNTs across their many fields of use.

Properties

Many of the unique properties commonly associated with carbon nanotubes can be attributed to their symmetrical and rounded form a well as the strength of the sp2 carbon-to-carbon bonds. Sp2 bonds are among the strongest atomics bonds in chemistry due to the configuration of valence electrons and the energy levels of carbon atoms. (http://invsee.asu.edu/nmodules/carbonmod/bonding.html)

Mechanical

At their peak, carbon nanotubes are shown to have 5 times the stiffness of steel and 50 times the tensile strength. However, when placed under a sufficiently high strain, carbon nanotubes are shown to undergo a permanent breakdown at the molecular level.

Electrical

The uniformity of carbon bonds means carbon nanotubes have potential to have different electrical conductivities. Carbon Nanotubes are typically either semiconductors or conductors as conducive as metals such as copper. [2] The relationship between the array of carbon atoms (n, m) is the key factor in determining whether a nanotubes is conductor or semiconductor.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are being investigated as a possible superconducting material. Due to their symmetry combined with cascaded nanotubes, superconductivity can be achieved by “linking” the different layers of the nanotubes. That being said, the temperature of operation for superconductivity is around 14K. While a temperature this low is impractical for mainstream uses, it is relatively higher than other superconducting materials. [6]

Research is being conducted that involves creating a film imbued with carbon nanotubes that would have a very high molecular surface area, leading to excellent capacitive and electrical properties. This film has potential to be used in photovoltaic instruments, energy storage (namely capacitors), and optical systems.

Chemical

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are more resistive to chemical breakdown that their single-walled counterparts.