MSE/MSNT 505 GROUP REVIEW PAPER

Carbon Nanotubes
The material of the future
Bam Aryal, Gadhadar Reddy, James McNamara, Shathabish Gowda
5/14/2010

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the most popular and promising nano-materials ever
discovered. They have potential applications in virtually every area of technology. The
versatility of CNTs arises from their phenomenal properties that include strength, high surface
area, high aspect ratio, mechanical and chemical stability, high temperature and electric
conductivity, optical properties and super-capacitance to name a few. Recent studies also report
that some of the most common (eyeliners) as well as revered (Damascus Sabre) commodities in
the past contained CNTs. Ever since its discovery in 1991, CNTs have been mentioned as the
future of materials by almost every field of science and technology. This article reviews the
expanse of these materials including their synthesis and some of the most talked-about
applications (both fictional and real).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................ii

LIST of FIGURES......................................................................................................... iii

LIST of TABLES........................................................................................................... iv

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................1

HISTORY.....................................................................................................................1

STRUCTURE................................................................................................................2

SYNTHESIS.................................................................................................................. 4

APPLICATIONS............................................................................................................. 6

ELECTRONICS ......................................................................................................6

ENERGY ............................................................................................................... 7

ENVIRONMENT .....................................................................................................8

SPORTS EQUIPMENTS...........................................................................................8

MILITARY.............................................................................................................. 9

CONSTRUCTION/ARCHITECTURE .........................................................................9

ORGANIC / BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS..............................................................10

CONCLUSION............................................................................................................12

REFERENCES............................................................................................................. 14

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LIST of FIGURES

Figure 1: Multi walled CNTs (left) and single walled CNTs (right)[3]...........................1

Figure 2: Arm chair arrangement (source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube)..........................................................3

Figure 3: Zigzag arrangement (left) and chiral arrangement (right) (source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/carbon_nanotube)...........................................................3

Figure 4: Laser vaporizing apparatus [9]....................................................................5

Figure 5: Flame synthesized carbon naotubes [12]....................................................6

Figure 6: Illustration of a CNT network directed toward thesurface, making pathways

for heat removal [15].................................................................................................7

Figure 7: Some sports equipment made with CNT technology. Source:

http://www.composites.ugent.be/home_made_composites/composites_in_daily_life_.
html............................................................................................................................9

Figure 8: 1,3 Dipolar addition to carbon naotube reaction.......................................11

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LIST of TABLES

Table 1: Young's Modulus, Tensile Strength, and Density of CNTs compared with
other materials [3]......................................................................................................2

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 INTRODUCTION

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nano-scale cylindrical tubes of graphitic carbon

constituting an important part of nanotechnology. The nano-tubes can be single-walled (SWNT)
or multi-walled (MWNT) [1]. CNTs are some of the strongest nano-fibers known and have
remarkable electronic properties in addition to many other unique characteristics [2]. CNTs are
simply a sheet of carbon tubes rolled into a cylinder. The diameter of a CNT is about a few
atomic diameters wide. One centimeter long CNT is ten millions times long than it is wide.
They are stronger than steel and their properties suggest that they can be one of the best
semiconductors. CNTs are cylindrical carbon molecules with novel properties such as
outstanding mechanical, electrical, thermal, and chemical properties: 100 times stronger than
steel, best field emission emitters, thermal conductivity comparable to that of diamond which
make them potentially useful in a wide variety of applications such as optics, nanoelectronics,
composite materials, conductive polymers and sensors [3]. CNTs are compared with other
materials such as steel and wood in Table 1.

HISTORY

L. V. Radushkevich and V.M. Lukyanovich published a paper in Soviet Journal of

Physical Chemistry regarding carbon nanotubes in 1952. It was not until 1991, that research in
CNTs took full swing. The discovery of buckminsterfullerene, C60, and other fullerenes in 1985
proved that carbon could also form other stable, ordered structures other than graphite and
diamond which stimulated researchers worldwide to search for other new forms of carbons
ultimately leading to the current state of CNTs [2]. Japanese scientist Sumio Iijima discovered
CNT in 1991. His CNTs contained at least two layers and the outer diameter ranged from about
3-20 nm [2]. In 1993, much narrower single walled nanotubes that tended to flex rather than
remain straight were discovered by Iijima and their diameters ranged from 1-2 nm [2].

Figure 1: Multi walled CNTs (left) and single walled CNTs (right)[3].
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CNTs are also called buckytubes. They are member of the fullerene structural family.
They are made by sp² bonds, similar to those observed in graphite and they naturally align
themselves into ropes held together by van der Waals forces [3].

Table 1: Young's Modulus, Tensile Strength, and Density of CNTs compared with other materials [3].

Material Young’s Modulus (GPa) Tensile Strength (GPa) Density (g/cm3)

SWNT 1054.0 150.0 -
MWNT 1200.0 150.0 2.600
Steel 208.00 0.400 7.800
Epoxy 3.500 0.005 1.250
Wood 16.00 0.008 0.600

STRUCTURE

Fullerenes exist in different structures such as sphere, cones, and tubes. There are also
some very complicated shapes. CNTs are bonded by sp² bond where each atom is joined to three
others just like in graphite. They have very high length to diameter ratio; so, they can be called
one dimensional. A layer of graphite layer is called grapheme. CNTs can be considered as rolled-
up graphene sheets. There are 3 explicit ways of rolling a grapheme sheet into a tube [2]. SWNT
consists of two distinct regions with distinct physical and chemical properties. The first region is
the sidewall of the tube and the second region is the mouth of the tube which is similar to
fullerene such as C60 [4]. Figures below show three different arrangement of single walled
CNTs.
Euler’s theorem can be used to derive that a closed cage structure consisting of only
pentagons and hexagons need twelve pentagons for completion. The desired curvature of the
surface to enclose a volume is obtained by the collective arrangement of a pentagon surrounded
by five hexagons [4]. An additional rule, called the isolated pentagon rule states that “the
distance between pentagons on the fullerene shell is maximized in order to obtain a minimal
local curvature and surface stress, resulting in a more stable structure” [4]. C 60 is the smallest
structure that can be made in conformity with both these rules.

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Figure 2: Arm chair arrangement (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube).

Figure 3: Zigzag arrangement (left) and chiral arrangement (right) (source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/carbon_nanotube).

The three different types of arrangements of the CNTs are arm-chair, zigzag, and chiral
as shown in Figure 2 and 3. The arrangement of CNTs can be represented by a pair of indices (n,
m) which are called the chiral vector. How “n” and “m” are related can be used to define the
three different arrangements of CNTs. For arm-chair arrangement n equals m and chiral angle
equals to 30° and for zigzag arrangement either n or m equal to zero and chiral angle equals to
0°. When the values of n and m are such that they do not fall under either arm-chair or zigzag
arrangement, such arrangement is called chiral arrangement; chiral angle for this arrangement is
between 0-30° [2].
MWNT can be envisaged as a concentric assembly of SWNTs with sequentially larger
diameters. The tube length and diameter of MWNTs are different than those of SWNTs and so
are their properties [4].

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SYNTHESIS

Carbon Nanotubes have been produced and used by humans since time immemorial; it
was just that we were not aware of their presence. The world famous Damascus Blades of the
medieval ages got their extraordinary strength and sharpness because of the Carbon Nanotubes
that were accidentally introduced into the steel that was manufactured in India [5, 6]. Carbon
Nanotubes are a natural byproduct of combustion, soot contains about 0.1% of Carbon
nanotubes. The main objective of the chemical synthesis methods is to increase this
concentration of nanotubes to as large a value as possible.
Carbon Nanotubes are manufactured artificially by vaporizing carbon atoms and then
letting them condense on a catalyst. This basic principle is used in all the current techniques of
nanotube synthesis. Carbon Nanotubes were first manufactured artificially by Sumo Ijima using
an Arc Discharge device. The arc discharge was carried out under a high pressure of 100torr and
the nanotubes were deposited at the negative end of the graphite electrode. The discharge was
carried out in an environment filled with the noble gas argon. The arc discharge provided enough
heat to vaporize the graphite anode and the carbon atoms condensed to form nanotubes. The
structural characterization of the newly formed carbon material was carried out using a
transmission electron microscope, the images for the first time showed a structure that looked
like it had been formed by rolling a grapheme sheet over itself. Ijima also proposed that the
nanotubes grew in a helical manner [7].
Shortly after Ijima’s announcement Ebbesen and Ajayan empirically optimized the arc
discharge process to produce large quantities of carbon nanotubes. The nanotube yield was found
to depend linearly on the gas pressure inside the crucible and a pressure of 500 torr always gave
the best yield. The process requires a DC voltage of 18v at 100 Amperes [8]. The arc discharge
technique allows us to produce large quantities of nanotubes. But the nanotubes tend to be of the
Multiwalled variety and cannot be produced to be of very long lengths. This is because the arc
discharge is not under the control of the user. This led to the development of a second technique
for the production of nanotubes using Laser.
Among all the different varieties of Carbon Nanotubes; the single walled nanotubes
exhibited the best material properties and are the only nanotubes capable of being
semiconductors. The production of single walled nanotubes in large quantities had been sought
after because of this. In 1995, Smalley et.al showed that carbon nanotubes could be grown in
large quantities using Laser ablation. Laser ablation is similar to an arc discharge except for the
fact that the heat to vaporize the carbon atoms is produced by a laser beam. A powerful laser is
shined on a specially prepared Graphite-catalyst substrate. The Substrate is formed by finely
grounding graphite and a transition metal catalyst and then heating the mixture in an oven to
800C for 3-4 hours. This produced a uniform dispersion of carbon and catalyst. The laser beam
vaporizes the graphite along with the catalyst particles. The apparatus used for laser ablation is
similar to the equipment used in the production fullerenes. Since Smalley had discovered
fullerenes earlier using the same equipment; it was natural for him to use a similar apparatus to
study and create carbon nanotubes. In this process a 300mJ, 0.532µm pulsed LASER beam is
focused on a small 6-7mm diameter spot as shown in the figure below.

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Figure 4: Laser vaporizing apparatus [9].

The yield of Single walled nanotubes in this process is around 70% but the overall yield
of carbon nanotubes is less than the 25% obtained via arc discharge. The carbon nanotubes are
thought to grow by a method of solvation of carbon vapor on the metal particle followed by
precipitation of nanotubes. If the metal catalysts are removed; the process would lead to
production of C60 fullerenes by the condensation of carbon particles on themselves. The metal
particles inhibit the fullerenes from forming by taking over the dangling bonds and hence
preventing the closure of the fullerene shell. Smalley hypothesized that the nanotubes were
formed by a process of lengthening of the fullerenes. The catalytic particles are 1-2nm diameter
in size and are formed by quenching of 300-400 metal atoms [9].
Laser Ablation solves the problem of producing large quantities of single walled
nanotubes but it suffers from the same deficiency as Arc Discharge in that the nanotubes
produced are not very long. This problem is solved by growing nanotubes using chemical vapor
deposition.
Chemical Vapor Deposition is carried out by passing vapors of a hydrocarbon gas on a
substrate embedded with catalyst particles. The substrate is usually made of silica as it is easy to
create aligned pores on it. The catalyst is prepared by a sol gel process from tetraethoxysilane
hydrolysis in an iron nitrate aqueous solution. A gelatin of the mixture is obtained and calcined
for 10 hrs at 450oc at low pressure. This leads to the formation of a silica network with relatively
uniform pores. A mixture of 9% Acetylene in Nitrogen is then introduced into the chamber at a
flow rate of 110cm3/min. Aligned carbon nanotubes are formed by the decomposition of
acetylene on the catalyst substrate. This technique produces perfectly aligned nanotube arrays on
the surface [10]. Since the nanotubes are stuck on a substrate there is no need for expensive
purification steps. There are several variations of the Chemical Vapor deposition and the most
recent version is called the Odako technique; named after the Japanese word for Kite. In this
technique iron nanoparticles function as catalysts on a silica substrate and are free to move. As
the carbon vapor is flown on the catalyst they rise above the surface like kites and the nanotubes
appear to be like the threads of a kite. The yield of this process is 4 times that of the substrate
materials and nanotubes of up to 1 millimeter can be grown can easily [11].
Chemical Vapor Deposition is by far the most superior technique for manufacture of
Carbon nanotubes but it is not the cheapest. Another simple technique for nanotube synthesis is
the flame synthesis. It uses some aspects of the chemical vapor deposition but does not require
the expensive substrate. Nanotubes are grown by passing a hydrocarbon flame over a stainless
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steel grid with a holding wire of made up of 0.4mm diameter Ni-Cr to collect the soot from the
burnt methane flame. The Nickel-Chromium wire acts as a catalyst on the fly and produces multi
walled nanotubes. The production of nanotubes using this method is cheap but the nanotubes
need to be purified as they are contaminated with soot [12].

Figure 5: Flame synthesized carbon naotubes [12].

APPLICATIONS

Carbon-nanotubes (CNTs) hold great promise, as a material of the future, since they have
prospective applications in virtually every field of science. Carbon nanotubes are extremely
famous among scientists because of their excellent properties that yield high functionality at an
extremely small length-scale. It is also a rarity that a lineage of good properties such as strength,
specific surface area, thermal/electrical conductivity, high aspect ratio, etc are all available in a
single material. This section relays some of the most interesting applications of CNTs.

ELECTRONICS

Downsizing the electronic circuits without any compromise on performance appears to be

the trend in the electronics industry. One of the major challenges here is that conventional metals
when nano-sized breakdown at much lower current loads. CNTs, in contrast adopt a non-contact,
ballistic electron transfer which essentially reduces the intrinsic resistance to zero. This makes
CNTs ideal for such applications where devices that operate at high currents need to be
condensed into smaller devices.
Extensive research is being done in the field of flexible electronic materials, wherein both
mechanical flexibility and high conductivity are the targets desired. Presently, polymers and
composites are the materials used for such applications, but these materials can be considerably
improved by incorporating randomly distributed CNT fibers on their substrates, owing to better

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network conductance [13]. The ease of fabrication and the compatibility of CNTs with polymer
materials are critical factors that make CNTs promising for these applications.
CNTs are used in the fabrication of field effect transistors, where they form the
conductive channels in the transistor layout. The apparent advantages by using CNTs are that
such devices possess extremely high sensitivity compared to conventional transistors. Further,
patterned growth of CNTs is being probed for integrating multiple transistors and devices [14].
CNTs are as good as diamond in heat conduction. This exceptional thermal conductivity
in CNTs has proven useful in making heat sinks for electronic devices such as computer chips
and MEMS devices. Xu, et. al. reports a novel concept for the heat sink by developing a
hierarchically branched network of CNTs that easily dissipate heat from the centre of a device to
the surroundings [15]. There are many other patented designs for similar heat dissipation
concepts for other devices as well, that use CNTs.

Figure 6: Illustration of a CNT network directed toward thesurface, making pathways for heat removal [15].

ENERGY

‘Alternative energy’ is, by far, today’s only true trillion dollar industry. CNTs find a lot
of prospective applications in this field such as materials for energy storage, energy generation,
scaffolds/supports for energy conversion devices etc.
One of the most recent breakthrough involving CNTs as energy sources describes a
mechanism by which electric current is produced by creating thermal waves on the surface of
CNTs [16]. In simple words, a device incorporating such a concept could possibly store electrical
energy indefinitely, unlike batteries which lose their charge density when idle. While this is an
extremely new finding, the endless possibilities using CNTs are highlighted.
Another area where CNTs are thoroughly investigated is hydrogen storage. The
motivating factor behind storing hydrogen in CNTs is the light weight and high surface area
offered for physically adsorbing hydrogen [17]. Although a lot of high storage capacities
reported using CNTs have been controversial, and the concept of storing hydrogen by physical
adsorption has been unproductive all these years, CNTs are still a class of compounds alive in
this area of research. One other related application is in fuel cells, where in CNTs are being used
as supports for the cathode (usually platinum, which is very expensive) to reduce the costs of
fuel cells [18].
Electrochemical devices are yet another area of application for CNTs, wherein they are
used as electrode materials. Capacitors, in electrochemical devices, made of CNTs have a much
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higher capacitance compared to the conventional capacitor. Super-capacitance would mean that
they can be ideal for applications where there is a requirement for very high power as well as
energy storage. One example could be hybrid electric vehicles, where a higher acceleration will
be possible (power output) as well as more efficient energy storage during braking [14].
Another area of application in hybrid electric vehicles is batteries. Lithium ion batteries
are the current frontrunners in this technology and CNTs are among the best materials that can be
used as electrodes. The need of the hour is to develop batteries which can reversibly charge and
discharge at extremely high discharge rates. CNTs deliver almost 1000mA.hour/g of energy
storage capacity and are almost twice that of other materials such as milled graphite [14].
Thin film organic photovoltaic devices, as materials for solar cells are another extremely
popular area with tremendous prospects for CNT applications. The photovoltaic device operates
by generating electron hole pairs by photon absorption that is subsequently collected at their
respective electrodes, and the electron transport produces electricity. CNTs have high electronic
conductivity, due to which they are used to provide a quick diffusion path for the electrons to
reach the electrode, with minimal resistance [19]. Another application of CNTs in solar cells is to
replace the expensive silicon that is used to design solar cells.

ENVIRONMENT

There are primarily two areas of concentration for the environmental applications of
CNTs – as sorbent materials for preferential adsorption of gases (eg CH 4) and as chemical and
biological sensors.
CNTs are used as preferential sorbents in a number of purification processes. CNTs were
found to adsorb dioxins in HNO3 purification [20]. CNTs are extremely sensitive even at room
temperature, which makes them extremely suitable for industrial purification processes. CNTs
have been studied for adsorption of CH4, NO2, and N2O4 etc [20]. The potential applications of
CNTs in CO2 capture (greenhouse gas capture, in general) are being probed.
The electronic properties of CNTs are very sensitive to surface alterations, making them
very excellent sensor materials. By altering the structural defects or doping with certain metals,
the CNTs can be used as very sensitive gas sensors, which can detect certain gases in the ppb
range. They are also used as sensors for bio-hazardous materials at room temperature. Since
CNTs can be synthesized by adopting a variety of processing conditions, their sensing ability is
largely dependent on the conditions they were synthesized in.

SPORTS EQUIPMENTS

The high mechanical strength coupled with low mass makes the CNTs a highly sought-
after material in the sports and general consumer goods manufacturing industry. Tennis and
badminton racquets made of CNTs and so are the golf clubs. The equipments are thus lighter
than before without any compensation in power/strength. Other sports goods include bicycles,
helmets and body parts of vehicles used for motor sports, where weight plays a very important
role in time sensitive sports. In addition to speed, CNTs also contribute to the safety of the

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sportsmen involved in these motor sports. In addition, CNTs are used to make equipments for
water-sports such as surf boards.

Figure 7: Some sports equipment made with CNT technology. Source:

http://www.composites.ugent.be/home_made_composites/composites_in_daily_life_.html.

MILITARY

Research on nanotechnology applications in military are highly funded and are

transforming the way nations are securing themselves. CNTs are, in particular, attractive for
military applications such as safety harnesses, explosion proof blankets, bullet proof body
armors, and smart wireless capabilities in remote areas. One of the most famous applications of
CNTs is in body armor. Of late, a lot of products with CNTs are released including bullet proof
vests. Typical materials used for such products are ceramic materials like boron carbide. The use
of CNTs is justified by the advantage of having a lower weight with the same toughness.

CONSTRUCTION/ARCHITECTURE

Composite materials developed by using CNTs have garnered huge interest for their
mechanical stability, good aspect ratios and applications in architectural and construction
industry. CNTs are widely used in reinforcing materials and as fillers. CNTs can be used in the
matrix of a wide range of construction materials, including glass, cement, metals, polymers etc
[21]. The thermal conductivity of CNTs is another property that finds use in making heat-
resistant structures, as well as insulating materials for boiler and air conditioning equipments
used in the construction industry. The properties of cement are also being enhanced by
reinforcing it with CNTs.
Another fancy application of CNTs in construction materials is the ‘space elevator’. The
space elevator is a fictional concept, which is a long tube structure that connects with the outer
space. The challenge of such a structure is that the tube must be extremely strong to remain in a
stretched position forever, owing to earth’s rotation. While it is highly speculative that such a
structure could ever be built, but if it does, carbon nanotubes are definitely the materials that will
make up these structures.

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ORGANIC / BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Applications for carbon nanotubes seem limitless when considering the advantages of
weight savings and increased strength as compared to structural materials such as steel. Add to
this the semiconductor properties, and other electrical properties, and one can see a bright future
for applications of carbon nanotubes, unless of course, they are used in living things.
Carbon nanotubes, as stated earlier, can be found in very old items, and being a part of
“lampblack” can be obtained quite easily, but never in the quantities and purities available today.
These substances were literally unknown and uncharacterized thirty years ago, and now, one can
find them all over, in the average daily life. What does this exposure do to animals? What does
this exposure do to the environment? These questions are the beginnings of regulatory
requirements. But who is to regulate these carbon nanotubes? Are they a drug? Are they a
device? Under which governmental agency do they fall?
After all of these questions were asked when carbon nanotubes were coming to the
forefront, initial results for toxicology studies did not look promising. All the research showed
deadly effects. Even as recently as 2004, evidence of pulmonary toxicity was being brought up.
According to Lam, et al, when carbon nanotubes reach the lungs of a mouse, they kill the mouse,
even in small doses [22]. This is supposing that due to carbon nanotube weight to area ratio, the
likelihood of aerosolization is high. There are many reports of immune cells being damaged by
carbon nanotubes, as well as lung epithelium. The evidence seems to be insurmountable that
these will not be able to be used as other nanoparticles are being tried: as drug delivery systems,
as tissue culture scaffolding, and others. As recently as 2008, comparisons of carbon nanotubes
to the dreaded asbestos fiber have shown mesothelioma – type damage to lung tissue [23]. Still,
work to find use in living systems continues.
The basis for all of these toxicity problems is the imminent fact that carbon nanotubes are
insoluble in any solvent including organic solvents and water. This also owes to the famous
properties mentioned earlier. But the non-wetting barrier may be bridged. By using azo-ylides, or
nitrogen- carbon compounds where the carbon adjacent to the nitrogen moiety holds a negative
charge, while the nitrogen is in a positively charged state, allows addition of one of these
molecules across one of the rings of the shell of the carbon nanotube. This is known as 1,3
dipolar cycloaddition. The following figure from bianco, et al, shows the general reaction [24].

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Figure 8: 1,3 Dipolar addition to carbon naotube reaction.

By using this principle with an organic solvent yields functionalized carbon nanotubes.
These functionalized carbon nanotubes (fCNTs) can then have their solubility tuned by
modifications to the alkane side chains (R groups in the figure), or by using different R groups to
begin with. This change to the solubility now adds a degree of safety, as insoluble objects are a
difficult problem for living systems to deal with. Solubility allows for the living entity to remove
unwanted objects through various methods based on solute gradients, and active transport.
This advance has opened up the CNT field. There are many reports being generated by
researchers all over the world that tout the non-toxic advantages of fCNTs. By varying the
addition reactants to vary the solubility, French and Italian scientists have shown that Immune
cells can not only survive fCNTs, but produce inflammatory cytokines. This may just be the
result of fCNTs acting on the cells, but this opens the possibility of using the tubes as
inflammatory modulators [25].
With this hurdle of solubility cleared there have been some animal trials of drug delivery
systems as well. By varying the addition method mentioned before, researchers collaborating at
Stanford University were able to add phospholipids to the single walled carbon nanotubes.
Phospholipids are easily substituted chemically at the oxygen rich end of the hydrocarbon chain,
and by using an anticancer drug, they have created a very specific targeted delivery system [26].
This group was able to substitute Taxol on the end of the hydrocarbon functionalisation via an
ester bond. Many nanoparticles and nanoshells sequester a drug inside, and then the leak rate
determines delivery. These particles are often functionalized to optimize the “enhanced
permeability and retention effect” of nanoparticles in biological systems. This refers to
membrane permeability enhancements into the cell, while exhibiting enhanced retention in the
cell as well. This is observed in many nanoparticle applications. The main difference here is that
the drug will not be freed unless the particle enters the cell. Naturally occurring esterases in the
cells will cleave the ester bond, and release the drug into the target cell. As cancerous cells
exhibit this increased permeability, and increased retention, more of the drug will be delivered to
cancer cells.
These particular fCNTs are also “PEGylated”, that is , coated with polyethylene glycol
moieties. This additional chemistry makes these soluble in water at physiological pH, yet another

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advancement. The treatment is carried out on live mice with good results, making this group
hopeful for a better chemtoxic cancer treatment.
This work opens the door to making fCNTs of specific dimensions to be ion channel
blockers. By using physiological parameters of signaling channels on neurons and other cells, we
can then manufacture agonists or antagonists from these fCNTs to modulate signaling, even
possibly memory.
Using this functionalisation technique groups are using the fCNTs as delivery units for proteins
as well as drugs. The human protein erythropoietin (EPO) has been loaded into fCNTs and
delivered into intestines of live animals, showing increased absorption of EPO. This is important
as this protein regulates production of blood cells, which are often downregulated by chemotoxic
anti cancer therapeutics. This would be an adjuvant treatment for cancer.
Even without the functionalisation, CNTs can be used as tips on the tips of AFM to poke
holes in cells. This approach is being called a nanoinjector [27], and may have many uses in
biological research, while not ever being circulated through any living system.
Another study has recently found that carbon nanotubes are broken down by an enzyme
(neutrophil myeloperoxidase) found inside the white blood cells [28]. The nanotubes have a
natural biological material that can degrade them but more studies will need to be carried out in
order to learn all aspects of this exciting new man-made material.
As can be seen from this discussion of “organic applications”, the range is broad and only
limited by imagination.

CONCLUSION

Carbon Nanotubes were discovered accidentally in the 90s and are now on the threshold
of revolutionizing every aspect of our lives. The nanotubes have a wide lineage of applications in
a wide variety of fields ranging from energy to transistors to super materials of the future.
Carbon nanotubes are the only material to have such a wide range of application. The
semiconducting nature of single walled nanotubes allows for fabrication of single molecule
transistors which can keep Moore’s law continuing for a long time. The tensile strength of single
nanotubes exceeds that of steel by orders of magnitude with a reduction in weight by a similar
margin. The applications of such materials are unparalleled. The electrical conductivity of
nanotubes is four orders of magnitude higher than that of copper. The ease of alteration of
properties such as chirality, aspect ratio etc makes carbon nanotubes extremely versatile as novel
application-materials. There has been speculation that carbon nanotubes could be poisonous to
human beings. However, these rod-like structures are similar to that of asbestos and symptoms
similar to asbestosis have been produced in lab mice. But the results were shown to be
controversial as the studies failed to consider the effects of iron nanoparticles which were also
present in the nanotubes. As was illustrated in this article, properties of CNTs such as high
surface area, super capacitance, light weight, extrordinary thermal and electronic conductivity
make these materials very promising for the future. Even ambitious projects like the space
elevator count on CNTs as the only materials that are capable of realizing something as fictional.

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REFERENCES

1. S. Reich, C. Thomsen, and J. Maultzsch, Carbon Nanotubes: Basic Concepts and Physical Properties,
Weinheim: Wiley-Vch Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, (2004).
2. P. Harris, Carbon Nanotube Page, The complete article can be accessed at
www.personal.reading.ac.uk/~scsharip/tubes.htm, Last accessed on 05/14/2010.
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