Definition

• Carbon nanotubes are nothing but

rolled up graphene sheets in armchair
structure, zigzag structure and chiral
structure.
• Carbon nanotubes, composed of
interlocking carbon atoms, are 1000x
thinner than an average human hair –
but can be 200x stronger than steel.
• Carbon nanotubes are hexagonally
shaped arrangements of carbon atoms
that have been rolled into tubes.
• These tiny straw-like cylinders of pure
carbon have useful electrical
properties. They have already been
used to make tiny transistor and one-
dimensional copper wire.
If:
m=0 , the nanotubes are called zigzag
n=m ,the nanotubes are called armchair
Otherwise ,they are called chiral.
The upper view of folded
sheets
• Armchair

• Zigzag

• Chiral
Types
• Single Wall CNT (SWCNT)

• Multiple Wall CNT (MWCNT)

• Can be metallic or semiconducting

depending on their geometry.
Single Wall CNT(SWCNT)
• Most single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs)
have a diameter close to 1 nanometer,
with a tube length that can be many
millions of time longer.
• The structure of a SWNTs can be
conceptualized by wrapping a one-atom-
thick layer of graphite called graphene
in to a seamless cylinder.
How to get SWCNT
Multiple Wall CNT
(MWCNT)
 Multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) consist
of multiple rolled layer( concentric
tubes) of graphene
• In the Russian Doll model, sheets of
graphite are arranged in concentric
cylinders, e.g., a (0,8) single-walled
nanotube (SWNT) within a larger (0,17)
single-walled nanotube.
• In the Parchment model, a single sheet
of graphite is rolled in around itself,
resembling a scroll of parchment or a
rolled newspaper.
• The interlayer distance in multi-walled
nanotubes is approximately 3.4 Å. Its
individual shells can be described as
SWNTs, which can be metallic or
semiconducting. 
Comparison
• Single –walled CNTs exhibit electric
properties that are not shared by the
multi-walled CNTs.
• SWNTs is useful in the development of
the first intramolecular field effect
transistors (FET).
Synthesis
• Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
• Arc-Discharge
• Laser Ablation
Chemical Vapor
Deposition
• A substrate is prepared with a layer of
metal catalyst particles, most commonly
nickel, cobalt, iron , or a combination.
• The substrate is heated to
approximately 700°C.
• Two gases are bled into the reactor: a
process gas (such as ammonia ,
nitrogen or hydrogen ) and a carbon-
containing gas (such as acetylene ,
ethylene , ethanol or methane ).
• Nanotubes grow at the sites of the metal
catalyst; the carbon-containing gas is
broken apart at the surface of the
catalyst particle, and the carbon is
transported to the edges of the particle,
where it forms the nanotubes.
Laser Ablation

• Use of very strong laser

• Expensive (energy costs)
• Commonly applied
 Another method to grow SWNTs using
laser ablation was demonstrated in
1996 by Smalley's group and has
prompted a lot of interest.
 The synthesis could be carried out in a
horizontal flow tube under a flow of
inert gas at controlled pressure.
 In this set-up the flow tube is heated to
~1200°C by a tube furnace. Laser pulses
enter the tube and strike a target
consisting of a mixture of graphite and
a metal catalyst such as Co or Ni.
 SWNTs condense from the laser
vaporization and are deposited on a
collector outside the furnace zone.
Working Process
Arc-Discharge

• Relatively cheap
• Many side-products
Arc-Discharge Process
• The carbon arc discharge method, is the
most common and perhaps easiest way
to produce CNTs, as it is rather simple.
• However, it is a technique that
produces a complex mixture of
components, and requires further
purification - to separate the CNTs from
the soot and the residual catalytic
metals present in the crude product.
• This method creates CNTs through arc-
vaporization of two carbon rods placed
end to end, separated by approximately
1mm, in an enclosure that is usually
filled with inert gas at low pressure.
• A direct current of 50 to 100A, driven
by a potential difference of
approximately 20 V, creates a high
temperature discharge between the two
electrodes.
• The discharge vaporizes the surface of
one of the carbon electrodes, and forms
a small rod-shaped deposit on the other
electrode.
• Producing CNTs in high yield depends
on the uniformity of the plasma arc,
and the temperature of the deposit
forming on the carbon electrode.
 Purification
• The main impurities :graphite (wrapped
up) sheets, amorphous carbon, metal
catalyst and the smaller fullerenes…
• Rules : - separate the SWNTs from the
impurities
give a more homogeneous diameter or
size distribution.
• The techniques that will be discussed
are oxidation, acid treatment,
annealing, ultrasonication, micro
filtration, ferromagnetic separation,
cutting, functionalisation and
chromatography techniques.
 Properties
             
• CNTs have High Electrical Conductivity
• CNTs have Very High Tensile Strength
• CNT are Highly Flexible- can be bent
considerably without damage
• CNTs are Very Elastic ~18% elongation
to failure
• CNTs have High Thermal Conductivity
• CNTs have a Low Thermal Expansion
Coefficient
• CNTs are Good Electron Field Emitters
• CNTs have a High Aspect Ratio (length
= ~1000 x diameter
Applications
• Thermal Conductivity of CNTs
• Field Emission of CNTs
• Conductive Plastics with CNTs
• Energy Storage using CNTs
• Conductive Connectors with CNTs
• Molecular Electronics based on CNTs
• Thermal Materials with CNTs
• Structural Composites with CNTs
• Fibers and Fabrics with CNTs
Summary
• Carbon nanotubes have very different
properties compared to the other
carbon allotropes
- these unique properties offer huge
potential in product development.
Thanks For
Watching