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Paradise, M. and T. Goswami, Carbon Nanotubes Production and Industrial Applications. Materials & Design, 2007. 28 (5) P. 1477-1489.
Paradise, M. and T. Goswami, Carbon Nanotubes Production and Industrial Applications. Materials & Design, 2007. 28 (5) P. 1477-1489.
& Design
Materials and Design 28 (2007) 1477–1489
www.elsevier.com/locate/matdes
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The T.J. Small College of Engineering, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH 45810, United States
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes are discussed in this paper from the time of their discovery to present day applications. Specifically the production
methods, properties and industrial applications of carbon nanotubes are reviewed. Production methods include classical approaches such
as the arc method, chemical vapor deposition, laser ablation, and electric arc discharge along with new methods which are being tested
such as through solar energy, plasma and microgravity environments. The electrical and mechanical properties and actual structure of
carbon nanotubes are discussed in detail. Both current applications of carbon nanotubes along with potential uses are also elucidated in
this review. The data has been compiled from open literature to comment on trends in behavior of the carbon nanotubes.
Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Single wall nanotubes; Multi-wall nanotubes; Nanometer; Chemical vapor deposition; Arc discharge; Carbon
0261-3069/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2006.03.008
1478 M. Paradise, T. Goswami / Materials and Design 28 (2007) 1477–1489
Fig. 1 (continued)
is needed. This is achieved by oxidative treatments in the uum equipment are needed to provide the atmosphere.
gaseous phase, liquid phase, acid treatment, micro filtra- The products are known to be well graphitized but there
tion, thermal treatment and ultrasound methods. After are some problems with this method. The growth needs
the process is complete the samples need to be characterized to be interrupted to remove the product from the chamber
further. Techniques such as Raman scattering (RS), thermal [2]. The most widely used process in producing carbon
gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electronic micros- nanotubes is the electric arc discharge method, Fig. 1(d–
copy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been e). This same process is also used in producing fullerenes.
used for such characterization [15]. In this method an electric arc discharge is generated
between two graphite electrodes under inert atmosphere
4. Arc method of helium or argon. A very high temperature is obtained
which allows the sublimation of the carbon. Two kinds
The arc method [2], in which carbon nanotubes were dis- of synthesis can be performed in the arc: evaporation of
covered, is carried out in low pressure He or other neutral pure graphite or co-evaporation of graphite and metal
atmosphere (Fig. 1(a)). Seales reaction chambers and vac- [11]. For the carbon nanotubes to be obtained, purification
1480 M. Paradise, T. Goswami / Materials and Design 28 (2007) 1477–1489
Fig. 3. Micrographs showing carbon nanotubes (a) macrograph of carbon nanotubes, (b) scanning electron micrographs of CNTs at 10,000 and 20,000
magnification, (c) aligned carbon nanotubes.
have a tendency to form in bundles which are parallel in the chiral angle is equal to zero the nanotube is known as
contact and consist of tens to hundreds of nanotubes [29]. zigzag. Chiral nanotubes are therefore when the chiral
Depending on how the grapheme walls of the nanotube angles are between 0° and 30°. The diameter is found by
€ 2 2 1=2
are rolled together they can result in an armchair, zigzag or the equation d t ¼ ðO3=pÞa cc ðm þ mn þ n Þ , where ac–c
chiral shapes (Fig. 5). These groups are distinguished by is the distance between neighboring carbon atoms in the
their unit cells which are determined by the chiral vector flat sheet. The phase difference is known to be 2P, where,
given by the equation: C h ¼ n^ a1 þ m^ a2 where ^
a1 and ^a2 for example, 10 hexagons are around the circumference
are unit vectors in the two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, of a zigzag type, the 11th would collide with the first when
and n and m are integers. Another important parameter it comes around the circumference once [30].
is the chiral angle, which is the angle between Ch and ^a1 The chiral angles along with diameter determine the
(Fig. 6). When n = m and the chiral angle is 30 degrees it properties of the nanotube. Studies of optical properties
is known as an armchair type. When m or n are zero and of nanotubes show that in most cases they act as semi
1482 M. Paradise, T. Goswami / Materials and Design 28 (2007) 1477–1489
8. Properties
Table 1
Mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes [5]
Material Young’s modulus Tensile strength Density
(GPa) (GPa) (g/cm3)
Single wall nanotube 1054 150
Multi wall nanotube 1200 150 2.6
Steel 208 0.4 7.8
Epoxy 3.5 0.005 1.25
Wood 16 0.008 0.6
Fig. 11. Left: Schematic of a prototype field emission display using carbon nanotubes. Right: A prototype 4.5_ field emission display fabricated by
Samsung using carbon nanotubes (image provided by Dr. W. Choi of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technologies).
M. Paradise, T. Goswami / Materials and Design 28 (2007) 1477–1489 1487
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