Carbon nanotube

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. These cylindrical carbon molecules have unusual properties, which are valuable for nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of materials science and technology. Owing to the material's exceptional strength and stiffness, nanotubes have been constructed with length-to-diameter ratio of up to 132,000,000:1, which is significantly larger than for any other material.

Structure

Carbon nanotubes are composed of carbon atoms linked in hexagonal shapes, with each carbon atom covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms. Each nanotube is surrounded by at least one other layer of carbon atoms, forming a tube-like structure. There are two main types of nanotubes: single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs).

Properties

Carbon nanotubes have several unique physical properties, including high thermal conductivity, high strength-to-weight ratio, and high electrical conductivity. These properties make them potentially useful in a wide variety of applications, from nanotechnology to material science.

Applications

Potential applications of carbon nanotubes include nanotechnology, electronics, optics, and other fields of materials science. They may also be used in the construction of body armor and in the development of space elevators. Additionally, they may be used in the field of medicine, for example in drug delivery systems.

See also

• Nanotechnology
• Nanomaterials
• Graphene