Understanding Carbon Nanotubes

This volume presents the foundations of carbon nanotube science, reviewing recent developments and prospects for practical application. Each chapter summarizes relevant concepts from physics, chemistry or materials science, followed by detailed reports on topics including polymorphism and mircostructure of carbon; synthesis and growth; structural analysis by electron microscopy; spectroscopic methods; electronic structure; transport; mechanical and surface properties of nanotubes and composites.

This volume presents the foundations of carbon nanotube science, reviewing recent developments and prospects for practical application. Each chapter summarizes relevant concepts from physics, chemistry or materials science, followed by detailed reports on topics including polymorphism and mircostructure of carbon; synthesis and growth; structural analysis by electron microscopy; spectroscopic methods; electronic structure; transport; mechanical and surface properties of nanotubes and composites.

Carbon nanotubes are exceptionally interesting from a fundamental research point of view. Many concepts of one-dimensional physics have been verified experimentally such as electron and phonon confinement or the one-dimensional singularities in the density of states; other 1D signatures are still under debate, such as Luttinger-liquid behavior. Carbon nanotubes are chemically stable, mechanically very strong, and conduct electricity. For this reason, they open up new perspectives for various applications, such as nano-transistors in circuits, field-emission displays, artificial muscles, or added reinforcements in alloys. This text is an introduction to the physical concepts needed for investigating carbon nanotubes and other one-dimensional solid-state systems. Written for a wide scientific readership, each chapter consists of an instructive approach to the topic and sustainable ideas for solutions. The former is generally comprehensible for physicists and chemists, while the latter enable the reader to work towards the state of the art in that area. The book gives for the first time a combined theoretical and experimental description of topics like luminescence of carbon nanotubes, Raman scattering, or transport measurements. The theoretical concepts discussed range from the tight-binding approximation, which can be followed by pencil and paper, to first-principles simulations. We emphasize a comprehensive theoretical and experimental understanding of carbon nanotubes including - general concepts for one-dimensional systems - an introduction to the symmetry of nanotubes - textbook models of nanotubes as narrow cylinders - a combination of ab-initio calculations and experiments - luminescence excitation spectroscopy linked to Raman spectroscopy - an introduction to the 1D-transport properties of nanotubes - effects of bundling on the electronic and vibrational properties and - resonance Raman scattering in nanotubes.

Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene is a timely second edition of the original Science and Technology of Carbon Nanotubes. Updated to include expanded coverage of the preparation, purification, structural characterization, and common application areas of single- and multi-walled CNT structures, this work compares, contrasts, and, where appropriate, unitizes CNT to graphene. This much expanded second edition reference supports knowledge discovery, production of impactful carbon research, encourages transition between research fields, and aids the formation of emergent applications. New chapters encompass recent developments in the theoretical treatments of electronic and vibrational structures, and magnetic, optical, and electrical solid-state properties, providing a vital base to research. Current and potential applications of both materials, including the prospect for large-scale synthesis of graphene, biological structures, and flexible electronics, are also critically discussed. Updated discussion of properties, structure, and morphology of biological and flexible electronic applications aids fundamental knowledge discovery Innovative parallel focus on nanotubes and graphene enables you to learn from the successes and failures of, respectively, mature and emergent partner research disciplines High-quality figures and tables on physical and mathematical applications expertly summarize key information – essential if you need quick, critically relevant data

This chapter describes how the semiconducting-single-wall nanotube (SWNT) extraction affects their luminescence properties and how such properties can be exploited to fabricate optical sources emitting in near-infrared wavelengths ranging from 1 to 2μm. The main applications of carbon nanotube (CNT) lasers are aimed at optical interconnects and biophotonics. We review recent achievements in obtaining optical gain in thin films doped with CNTs. Techniques for determining optical gain in CNTs are considered with particular focus on the variable strip length (VSL) method and choices to integrate nanotubes in the optical waveguide are discussed.

Carbon nanotubes belong to new nanomaterials and have been known for almost 20 years, but their history is somewhat lengthier. They have been identified as promising candidates for various applications.High-temperature preparation techniques are conventional techniques for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes using arc discharge or laser ablation, but today these methods are being replaced by low-temperature vapor deposition techniques, since orientation, alignment, nanotube length, diameter, purity, and density of carbon nanotubes can be precisely controlled. The synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition on catalyst arrays leads to nanotube models grown from specific sites on surfaces. The controlled synthesis of nanotubes opens up interesting possibilities in nanoscience and nanotechnologies, including electrical, mechanical and electromechanical properties and devices, chemical functionalization, surface chemistry and photochemistry, molecular sensors, and interfacing with moderate biological systems.Carbon nanotubes are used in many applications due to their unique electrical, mechanical, optical, thermal, and other properties. Conductive and high-strength composite materials, energy saving and energy conversion devices, sensors, visualization of field emissions and sources of radiation, means for storing hydrogen, and nanoscale semiconductor devices, probes, and interconnections are some of the many applications of carbon nanotubes.

Building on the success of its predecessor, Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications, this second volume focuses on those areas that have grown rapidly in the past few years. Contributing authors reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the book and are all leaders in their particular areas of research. Among the many topics they cover are graphene and other carbon-like and tube-like materials, which are likely to affect and influence developments in nanotubes within the next five years. Extensive use of illustrations enables you to better understand and visualize key concepts and processes.

The first book on this subject, invaluable to researchers and professionals involved with toxicology, risk assessment and nanotube physics.