Carbon Naotubes Essay

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INTRODUCTION

A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a tube shaped material having diameter in the nanometre range. As a group, carbon nanotubes typically have diameters ranging from less than 1 nm to 50 nm. Their lengths are typically of several microns. Recent advancements have made the nanotubes much longer (up to few centimetres).

Carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon having a cylindrical nanostructure. They are said to be the member of ‘fullerene structural family’. Nanotubes having an aspect ratio upto 132,000,000: 1 are being constructed.

CNTs are widely used in the field of nanotechnology, electronics, optics and various fields of materials science and technology due to their unusual properties.

Carbon nanotubes were discovered in 1991 …show more content…

CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION (CVD):-

During CVD, a substrate covered with metal catalysts, like Ni, Co, Fe or their combination is heated to approximately 700°C. The growth starts after two gases are passed through the chamber i.e. a carrier gas and a hydrocarbon gas. The production yield is almost 90% hence it is used in industrial applications.

CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF CARBON NANOTUBES
1. Bulk carbon nanotubes are being used as composite fibres in polymers to improve thermal, mechanical electrical and thermal properties of the bulk product.

2. Nanotubes are used as tips in the atomic force microscope probes.

3. Carbon nanotubes act as scaffolding for bone growth in tissue engineering.

4. Carbon nanotube based air and water filtration devices have been commercialised and they are reported to kill bacteria.

5. Carbon Nanotube based flat panel displays are being developed by various companies.

6. Stain resistant textiles, tennis rackets and baseball bats are developed using carbon nanotubes.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF CARBON NANOTUBES

1. Single walled carbon nanotubes can be used to help protect DNA molecules from damage by oxidation.

2. Carbon nanotubes can be used to create stab and bullet – proof clothing as they have high tensile …show more content…

Paper thin sheet of cellulose, infused with aligned carbon nanotubes, can be engineered to be used as a paper battery.

6. Single walled carbon nanotubes can be used in solar panels due to their strong absorption characteristics.

7. Nanotubes can be used to store hydrogen, enabling them to be used as fuel source.

8. Nanotubes can be implemented in super capacitors to increase the charge storing capacity.

9. Multi walled carbon nanotubes have high radar absorption capacity, thus, can be used in aircrafts to lessen its radar cross-section.

10. Carbon nanotube coated fibres can be used for preparing multi-functioning fabric which is anti – bacterial, flame retardant having electromagnetic absorbance properties.

11. Nanotubes can also be used to produce sound thermo acoustically.

12. Due to the large hydrophobic surface area, nanotubes have strong adsorption affinity to a large number of aromatic and aliphatic contaminants and hence they can be used in water treatment process.

13. Carbon nanotubes can be implemented in mechanical memory elements and nanoscale electric models.

14. A radio receiver consisting of a single nanotube can be used as a Nano radio.

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