Abstract

CARBON NANOTUBES: ADVANCEMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Ram Chandra Jat*, Kanika Arora, Nidhi Anuragi, Rakhi Kaushal, Dr. Vinay Jain

ABSTRACT

Carbon nanotubes are unique tubular structure of nanometer diameter and large length/diameter ratio. Carbon nanotubes are seamless cylindrical shells of graphic sheet. They have novel mechanical and electronic properties. They suggest new high strength fibers, submicroscopic test tube and perhaps new semi-conduction material. Each shell is made up of sp2 (trivalent) carbon atom that forms a hexagonal network without any edge. Carbon nanotubes are intriguing new material with extra ordinary electrical properties originating from their quasi 1-Dimensional structure and a strong, all carbon lattices. The nanotubes have high young modulus and tensile strength, which make them preferable for composite material with improved mechanical properties. The nanotube can be metallic or semiconducting depending on their structure parameter. This opens the way for application of the nanotube as central element in electronic devices including field-effect transistors (FET), single-electron transistors and rectifying diodes. They have great potential for use in electronic and energy related application, such as low resistance metal interconnects, optically transparent conducting films for display applications, high surface area catalytic support, etc.

Keywords: Carbon nanotubes, novel mechanical and electrical properties.