NANOTUBES - PROPERTIES & APPLICATIONS

Komal Trivedi1, Meghna Jain2

Computer Science, II year, B-Tech.
Jaipur Engineering College, Kukas
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Ph.: +9194608041491, +9194137372372

Abstract
Nanotechnology is a field of science that deals with very small things i.e. objects
measuring from one nanometer (10-9 meter) to 100 nanometers. Carbon nanotubes are
molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon. In this paper we have studied and discussed
about; the various outstanding properties (Electrical Conductivity, Strength & Elasticity,
Thermal conductivity & Expansion, Field Emission, Aspect ratio, Absorbance) and the
wide range of applications (in nanotechnology, electronics, optics and other fields of
materials science, as well as potential uses in architectural fields) related to Nanotubes.

Keywords: Carbon nanotubes, Lattice Structure, Nanoscale, Thermo Mechanical

Properties, Semiconductor, Field Emission.

1. INTRODUCTION
A nanotube may consist of one tube of graphite, a one-atom thick single-wall nanotube,
or a number of concentric tubes called multiwalled nanotubes. When viewed with a
transmission electron microscope these tubes appear as planes. Whereas single walled
nanotubes appear as two planes, in multi walled nanotubes more than two planes are
observed, and can be seen as a series of parallel lines.
There are different types of CNTs, because
the graphitic sheets can be rolled in
different ways. The three types of CNTs are
Zigzag, Armchair, and Chiral. It is possible
to recognize zigzag, armchair, and chiral
CNTs just by following the pattern across
the diameter of the tubes, and analyzing
their cross-sectional structure.
Multi walled nanotubes can come in an
even more complex array of forms, because
each concentric single-walled nanotube can
have different structures, and hence there
Fig1. a. SWNT bundles (the mean diameter of a SWNT are a variety of sequential arrangements.
in a bundle is ∼ 1.4 nm). b. An arc-discharge MWNT, The simplest sequence is when concentric
showing a high degree of order. c. Catalytically grown layers are identical but different in
MWNTs.
diameter. However, mixed variants are
possible, consisting of two or more types of concentric CNTs arranged in different
orders. These can have either regular layering or random layering. The structure of the
nanotube influences its properties - including electrical and thermal conductivity, density,
and lattice structure. Both type and diameter are important. The wider the diameter of the
nanotube, the more it behaves like graphite. The narrower the diameter of the nanotube,
the more its intrinsic properties depends upon its specific type.

CNTs are an example of true nanotechnology: they are below 100 nanometers in
diameter, but are molecules that can be manipulated chemically and physically in very
useful ways. They open an incredible range of applications in materials science,
electronics, chemical processing, energy management, and many other fields.

2. PROPERTIES OF CARBON NANOTUBES

2.1. Electrical Conductivity

There has been
considerable
practical interest in
the conductivity of
CNTs. CNTs with
particular
combinations of N
and M, the structural
parameters
indicating how
much the nanotube
is twisted, can be
highly conducting,
and hence can be
said to be metallic.
Their conductivity Fig2. Conductance G (in units of quantum conductance, G0 ) 2e2/h) v/s Vg (Fermi
has been shown to energy) for a quasi-metallic SWNT at various temperatures. The conductance
be a function of approaches the theoretical limit 2G0 at low temperatures, with conductance fluctuations
due to quantum resonance effects.
their chirality, the
degree of twist as well as their diameter. CNTs can be either metallic or semi-conducting
in their electrical behavior. Conductivity in MWNTs is quite complex. Some types of
"armchair"-structured CNTs appear to conduct better than other metallic CNTs.
Furthermore, interwall reactions within multi walled nanotubes have been found to
redistribute the current over individual tubes non-uniformly. However, there is no change
in current across different parts of metallic single-walled nanotubes. The behavior of the
ropes of semi-conducting single walled nanotubes is different, in that the transport
current changes abruptly at various positions on the CNTs.
The conductivity and resistivity of ropes of single walled nanotubes has been measured
by placing electrodes at different parts of the CNTs. The resistivity of the single walled
nanotubes ropes was of the order of 10-4 ohm-cm at 27oC. This means that single walled
nanotube ropes are the most conductive carbon fibers known. The current density that
was possible to achieve was 10-7 A/cm2, however in theory the single walled nanotube
ropes should be able to sustain much higher stable current densities, as high as 10-13
A/cm2. It has been reported that individual single walled nanotubes may contain defects.
Fortuitously, these defects allow the single walled nanotubes to act as transistors.
Likewise, joining CNTs together may form transistor-like devices. A nanotube with a
natural junction (where a straight metallic section is joined to a chiral semiconducting
section) behaves as a rectifying diode - that is, a half-transistor in a single molecule. It
has also recently been reported that single walled nanotubes can route electrical signals at
speeds up to 10 GHz when used as interconnects on semi-conducting devices.

2.2. Strength and Elasticity

The carbon atoms of a single sheet of graphite form a planar honeycomb lattice, in which
each atom is connected via a strong chemical bond to three neighboring atoms. Because
of these strong bonds, the basal plane elastic modulus of graphite is one of the largest of
any known material. For this reason, CNTs are expected to be the ultimate high-strength
fibers. Single walled nanotubes are stiffer than steel, and are very resistant to damage
from physical forces. Pressing on the tip of a nanotube will cause it to bend, but without
damage to the tip. When the force is removed, the nanotube returns to its original state.
This property makes CNTs very useful as probe tips for very high-resolution scanning
probe microscopy. Quantifying these effects has been rather difficult, and an exact
numerical value has not been agreed upon.

Using atomic force microscopy, the unanchored ends of a freestanding nanotube can be
pushed out of their equilibrium position, and the force required to push the nanotube can
be measured. The current Young's modulus value of single walled nanotubes is about 1
TeraPascal (Tpa.), but this value has been widely disputed, and a value as high as 1.8
Tpa. has been reported. Other values significantly higher than that have also been
reported. The differences probably arise through different experimental measurement
techniques. Others have shown theoretically that the Young's modulus depends on the
size and chirality of the single walled nanotubes, ranging from 1.22 Tpa. to 1.26 Tpa.
They have calculated a value of 1.09 Tpa for a generic nanotube. However, when
working with different multi walled nanotubes, others have noted that the modulus
measurements of multi walled nanotubes using AFM techniques do not strongly depend
on the diameter. Instead, they argue that the modulus of the multi walled nanotubes
correlates to the amount of disorder in the nanotube walls. Not surprisingly, when multi
walled nanotubes break, the outermost layers break first.

2.3. Thermal Conductivity and Expansion

CNTs may be the best heat-conducting material ever known. Ultra-small single walled
nanotubes have even been shown to exhibit superconductivity below 20 o K. Various
researches have suggested that these exotic strands, already heralded for their
unparalleled strength and unique ability to adopt the electrical properties of either
semiconductors or perfect metals, may someday also find applications as miniature heat
conduits in a host of devices and materials. The strong in-plane graphitic carbon - carbon
bonds make them exceptionally strong and stiff against axial strains. The almost zero in-
plane thermal expansion but large inter-plane expansion of single walled nanotubes
implies strong in-plane coupling and high flexibility against non-axial strains.

Reports of several recent experiments on the preparation and mechanical characterization

of CNT-polymer composites have also appeared. These measurements suggest modest
enhancements in strength characteristics of CNT-embedded matrixes as compared to bare
polymer matrixes. Preliminary experiments and simulation studies on the thermal
properties of CNTs show very high thermal conductivity. It is expected, therefore, that
nanotube reinforcements in polymeric materials may also significantly improve the
thermal and thermo mechanical properties of the composites.

2.4. Field Emission

Field emission results from the tunneling of electrons from a metal tip into vacuum,
under application of a strong electric field. The small diameter and
high aspect ratio of CNTs is very favorable for field emission.
Even for moderate voltages, a strong electric field develops at the
free end of supported CNTs because of their sharpness. This was
observed by de Heer and co-workers at EPFL in 1995. He also
immediately realized that these field emitters must be superior to
conventional electron sources and might find their way into all Fig3. Emission pattern of
kind of applications, most importantly flat-panel displays. It is ascreenMoS2 nanotube on the
of the FEM, at some
remarkable that after only five years Samsung actually realized a 10 nA FE current.
very bright color display, which will be shortly commercialized
using this technology. Studying the field emission properties of
multi walled nanotubes, Bonard and co-workers at EPFL observed that together with
electrons, light is emitted as well. This luminescence is induced by the electron field
emission, since it is not detected without applied potential. This light emission occurs in
the visible part of the spectrum, and can sometimes be seen with the naked eye.

2.5. High Aspect Ratio (length= ~1000 x diameter)

CNTs represent a very small, high aspect ratio conductive additive for plastics of all
types. Their high aspect ratio means that a lower loading of CNTs is needed compared to
other conductive additives to achieve the same electrical conductivity. This low loading
preserves more of the polymer resins' toughness, especially at low temperatures, as well
as maintaining other key performance properties of the matrix resin. CNTs have proven
to be an excellent additive to impart electrical conductivity in plastics. Their high aspect
ratio, about 1000:1 imparts electrical conductivity at lower loadings, compared to
conventional additive materials such as carbon black, chopped carbon fiber, or stainless
steel fiber.
2.6. Highly Absorbent
The large surface area and high absorbency of CNTs make them ideal candidates for use
in air, gas, and water filtration. A lot of research is being done in replacing activated
charcoal with CNTs in certain ultra high purity applications.

3. APPLICATIONS

The special nature of carbon combined with the molecular perfection of single-walled
nanotubes to endow them with exceptional material properties, such as very high
electrical and thermal conductivity, strength, stiffness, toughness and probably the best
electron field-emitter. No other element in the periodic table bonds to itself in an
extended network with the strength of the carbon-carbon bond. The delocalized pi-
electron donated by each atom is free to move about the entire structure, rather than
remain with its donor atom, giving rise to the first known molecule with metallic-type
electrical conductivity. Furthermore, the high-frequency carbon-carbon bonds vibrations
provide an intrinsic thermal conductivity higher than even diamond. In most conventional
materials, however, the actual observed material properties - strength, electrical
conductivity, etc. - are degraded very substantially by the occurrence of defects in their
structure.

Since CNTs are polymers of pure, rich carbon, it is easy to modify their structure, and to
optimize their solubility and dispersion. Hence CNTs are molecularly perfect, which
means that they are normally free of property-degrading flaws in the nanotube structure.
Their material properties can therefore approach closely the very high levels intrinsic to
them. These extraordinary characteristics give CNTs potential in numerous applications.

3.1. Field Emission

CNTs are the best known field emitters of any material. This is understandable, given
their high electrical conductivity, and the incredible sharpness of their tip. The smaller
the tip's radius of curvature, the more concentrated the electric field will be, leading to
increased field emission. The sharpness of the tip also means that they emit at especially
low voltage, an important fact for building low-power electrical devices that utilize this
feature. CNTs can carry an astonishingly high current density. Furthermore, the current is
extremely stable. An immediate application of this behavior receiving considerable
interest is in field-emission flat-panel displays. Instead of a single electron gun, as in a
traditional cathode ray tube display, in CNT-based displays there is a separate nanotube
electron gun for each individual pixel in the display. Their high current density, low turn-
on and operating voltages, and steady, long-lived behavior make CNTs very attractive
field emitters in this application. Other applications utilizing the field-emission
characteristics of CNTs include general types of low-voltage cold-cathode lighting
sources, lightning arrestors, and electron microscope sources.
3.2. Conductive or Reinforced Plastics
For structural applications, plastics have made tremendous headway, but not where
electrical conductivity is required, because plastics are very good electrical insulators.
This deficiency is overcome by loading plastics up with conductive fillers, such as carbon
black and larger graphite fibers. The loading required to provide the necessary
conductivity using conventional fillers is typically high, however, resulting in heavy
parts, and more importantly, plastic parts whose structural properties are highly degraded.
It is well established that the higher the aspect ratio of the filler particles, the lower the
loading required to achieve a given level of conductivity.

CNTs are ideal in this sense, since they have the highest aspect ratio of any carbon fiber.
In addition, their natural tendency to form ropes provides inherently very long conductive
pathways even at ultra-low loadings. Applications that exploit this behavior of CNTs
include EMI/RFI shielding composites; coatings for enclosures, gaskets, and other uses
such as electrostatic dissipation; antistatic materials, transparent conductive coatings; and
radar-absorbing materials for stealth applications. A lot of automotive plastics companies
are using CNTs as well. CNTs have been added into the side mirror plastics on
automobiles in the US since the late 1990s.

3.3. Energy Storage

CNTs have the intrinsic characteristics desired in material used as electrodes in batteries
and capacitors, two technologies of rapidly increasing importance. CNTs have a
tremendously high surface area, good electrical conductivity, and very importantly, their
linear geometry makes their surface highly accessible to the electrolyte.

Research has shown that CNTs have the highest reversible

capacity of any carbon material for use in lithium ion
batteries. In addition, CNTs are outstanding materials for
super capacitor electrodes and are now being marketed for
this application. CNTs also have applications in a variety of
fuel cell components. They have a number of properties,
including high surface area and thermal conductivity, which
make them useful as electrode catalyst supports in PEM
fuel cells(Fig 4.). Because of their high electrical
conductivity, they may also be used in gas diffusion layers, Fig4. Harvesting light energy
as well as current collectors. CNTs' high strength and using carbon nanotube films as
electrodes inside PEM cells.
toughness-to-weight characteristics may also prove
valuable as part of composite components in fuel cells that are deployed in transport
applications, where durability is extremely important.

3.4. Conductive Adhesives and Connectors

The same properties that make CNTs attractive as conductive fillers for use in
electromagnetic shielding, ESD materials, etc., make them attractive for electronics
packaging and interconnection applications, such as adhesives, potting compounds,
coaxial cables, and other types of connectors.

3.5. Molecular Electronics

The idea of building electronic circuits out of the essential building blocks of materials -
molecules - has seen a revival the past few years, and is a key component of
nanotechnology. In any electronic circuit, but particularly as dimensions shrink to the
nanoscale, the interconnections between switches and other active devices become
increasingly important. Their geometry, electrical conductivity, and ability to be precisely
derived, make CNTs the ideal candidates for the connections in molecular electronics. In
addition, they have been demonstrated as switches themselves.

There are already companies such as Nantero from Woburn, MA that are already making
CNT based non-volatile random access memory for PC's. A lot of research is being done
to design CNT based transistors as well.

3.6. Thermal Materials

The record-setting anisotropic thermal conductivity of CNTs is enabling many
applications where heat needs to move from one place to another. Such an application is
found in electronics, particularly heat sinks for chips used in advanced computing, where
uncooled chips now routinely reach over 100oC. The technology for creating aligned
structures and ribbons of CNTs [D.Walters, et al, Chem. Phys. Lett. 338, 14 (2001)] is a
step toward realizing incredibly efficient heat conduits. In addition, composites with
CNTs have been shown to dramatically increase their bulk thermal conductivity, even at
very small loadings.

3.7. Structural Composites

The superior properties of CNTs are not limited to electrical and thermal conductivities,
but also include mechanical properties, such as stiffness, toughness, and strength. These
properties lead to a wealth of applications exploiting them, including advanced
composites requiring high values of one or more of these properties.

3.8. Fibers and Fabrics

Fibers spun of pure CNTs have recently been demonstrated (by R.H. Baughman) and are
undergoing rapid development, along with CNT composite fibers. Such super-strong
fibers will have many applications including body and vehicle armor, transmission line
cables, woven fabrics and textiles.

3.9. Catalyst Supports

CNTs intrinsically have an enormously high surface area; in fact, for single walled
nanotubes every atom is not just on one surface - each atom is on two surfaces, the inside
and outside of the nanotube! Combined with the ability to attach essentially any chemical
species to their sidewalls this provides an opportunity for unique catalyst supports. Their
electrical conductivity may also be exploited in the search for new catalysts and catalytic
behavior.
3.10. CNT Ceramics
A ceramic material reinforced with carbon nanotubes has been made by materials
scientists at UC Davis. The new material is far tougher than conventional ceramics,
conducts electricity and can both conduct heat and act as a thermal barrier, depending on
the orientation of the nanotubes. Ceramic materials are very hard and resistant to heat and
chemical attack, making them useful for applications such as coating turbine blades, but
they are also very brittle.

The researchers mixed powdered alumina (aluminum oxide) with 5 to 10 percent carbon
nanotubes and a further 5 percent finely milled niobium. The researchers treated the
mixture with an electrical pulse in a process called spark-plasma sintering. This process
consolidates ceramic powders more quickly and at lower temperatures than conventional
processes.

The new material has up to five times the fracture toughness -- resistance to cracking
under stress -- of conventional alumina. The material shows electrical conductivity seven
times that of previous ceramics made with nanotubes. It also has interesting thermal
properties, conducting heat in one direction, along the alignment of the nanotubes, but
reflecting heat at right angles to the nanotubes, making it an attractive material for
thermal barrier coatings

3.11. Biomedical Applications

The exploration of CNTs in biomedical
applications is just underway, but has
significant potential. Since a large part of
the human body consists of carbon, it is
generally though of as a very
biocompatible material. Cells have been
shown to grow on CNTs, so they appear to
have no toxic effect. The cells also do not
adhere to the CNTs, potentially giving rise
to applications such as coatings for
prosthetics and surgical implants. The
ability to functionalize the sidewalls of
CNTs also leads to biomedical applications
such as vascular stents, and neuron growth
and regeneration. It has also been shown
that a single strand of DNA can be bonded
to a nanotube, which can then be
successfully inserted into a cell; this has Fig5. Smart bomb, Seek and destroy.
potential applications in gene therapy.
3.12. Air, Water, and Gas Filtration
Many researchers and corporations have already developed CNT based air and water
filtration devices. It has been reported that these filters can not only block the smallest
particles but also kill most bacteria. This is another area where CNTs have already been
commercialized and products are on the market now. Someday CNTs may be used to
filter other liquids such as fuels and lubricants as well.

A lot of research is being done in the development of CNT based air and gas filtration.
Filtration has been shown to be another area where it is cost effective to use CNTs
already. It is also suggested that 1 gram of MWNTs can be dispersed onto 1 sq ft of filter
media. Manufacturers can get their cost down to 35 cents per gram of purified MWNTs
when purchasing ton quantities.

3.13. Other Applications

There is a wealth of other potential applications for CNTs, such as solar collection;
nanoporous filters; and coatings of all sorts. There are almost certainly many
unanticipated applications for this remarkable material that will come to light in the years
ahead, and which may prove to be the most important and valuable ones of all. Many
researchers are looking into conductive and or waterproof paper made with CNTs. CNTs
have also been shown to absorb Infrared light and may have applications in the I/R
Optics Industry.

Some commercial products on the market today utilizing CNTs include stain resistant
textiles, CNT reinforced tennis rackets and baseball bats. Companies like Kraft foods are
heavily funding CNT based plastic packaging. Food will stay fresh longer if the
packaging is less permeable to atmosphere. Coors Brewing company has developed new
plastic beer bottles that stay cold for longer periods of time. Samsung already has CNT
based flat panel displays on the market. A lot of companies are looking forward to being
able to produce transparent conductive coatings and phase out ITO coatings. Samsung
uses align SWNTs in the transparent conductive layer of their display manufacturing
process.

4. CONCLUSION

CNTs have many unique and desirable properties. Although many applications may take
significant investments of time and money to develop & to reach commercial viability,
there are plenty of applications today in which CNTs add significant benefits to existing
products with relatively low implementation costs. Most of these applications are in the
polymer, composite materials, batteries, paints, plastics, ceramics, and textiles industries.
Nanostructural materials are often in a metastable state. Their detailed atomic
configuration depends sensitively on the kinetic processes in which they are fabricated.
Therefore, the properties of nanotubes can be widely adjusted by changing their size,
shape and processing conditions.
Advance Nanotechnology can also prove to be dangerous and destructive in nature. The
most threatening scenarios involve tiny manufacturing systems that run amok, or are used
to create destructive products.

REFERENCES

1. Introduction* Peter Harris's nanotube book

2. HONGJIE DAI* Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
3. Prashant Kamat The Electrochemical Society Interface.
4. Campbell S A, The Science and Engineering of Microelectronic Fabrication Oxford University
Press
5. www.nanocompositech.com
6. [email protected]
7. www.wikipedia\nanotechnology\nanotubes