Nanotubes (CNTs) and their Electrical and Mechanical Applications

By Khaled A. Al-Haddi

Abstract The report discusses carbon nanotubes. The report starts with an introduction. This is followed by offering a general background about the definition of carbon nanotubes and their types. After that, the report discusses the applications of carbon nanotubes and then the report discusses their advantages. Finally, the report ends up with a conclusion.

Table Of Contents

Page INTRODUCTION I. BACKGROUND A. What Is Carbon Nanotubes? B. Types Of Carbon Nanotubes II. APPLICATIONS OF CARBON NANOTUBES A. Mechanical Applications B. Electrical Applications III. ADVANTAGES OF CARBON NANOTUBES A. Mechanical Advantages B. Electrical Advantages. CONCLUSION REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION A lot of us know what semiconductors are and what a diode is, what we might not know is what a carbon nanotube (CNT) is. A CNT is a very small tube made of the molecules of carbon about a few nanometers wide and can be millimeters long. CNTs will enable size reductions and better performance in future machines leading to cheaper and more efficient machines. CNT has a wide variety of applications from medicine to the manufacture of flat panel displays. The specific purpose of the report is to discuss the applications of carbon nanotubes. In addition to that, some of the attention is paid for discussing the advantages of carbon nanotubes. The report id directed for lay readers who are interested in this type of technology. The report discusses carbon nanotubes. The report starts with an introduction. This is followed by offering a general background about the definition of carbon nanotubes and their types. After that, the report discusses the applications of carbon nanotubes and then the report discusses their advantages. Finally, the report ends up with a conclusion. I. BACKGROUND Nanotechnology and small scale devices is a new science that scientists are finding it very promising. Many huge developments have been made in this science and one of them is carbon nanotubes. Since this is a new area of knowledge, this section discusses two things. The first one is to define nanotechnology and carbon nanotubes and the second one is the types of carbon nanotubes. A. What Is Carbon Nanotubes? Nanotechnology can be defined as the science of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale (1:7). When making very small devices by building them molecule by molecule, the ability to increase the accuracy and control of the final product will be very high (1:7). One of the developments of nanotechnology is carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are composed of single sheet graphite rolled to form a tube (1:8). Each end of the tube is capped with fullerene hemispheres (1:8). These CNTs are useful in very small scale electronic and mechanical applications (3:1). This is because of their advantages. B. Types Of Carbon Nanotubes

First of all, it should be mentioned that there are many large and well recognized companies that develop and work on CNTs. This is because this technology will improve many devices. One of these manufacturers is the well known Samsung the South Korean companies (4:1) these companies make different type of CNTs according to their needs. However, CNTs can be one of two types: single-walled nanotubes (SWNT) and the second are mutli-walled nanotubes (MWNT) (3:1). Each of them is suitable for a certain applications. II. APPLICATIONS OF CARBON NANOTUBES Carbon nanotubes are synthesized materials that have been made to fill the need for these materials in many applications. Because of their properties they have been made to be used in two areas. The first one is the mechanical applications and the second one is the electronic applications. A. Mechanical Applications There are many applications of carbon nanotubes. One of these is the mechanical applications. Carbon nanotubes have been used in many mechanical applications because of their advantages. Therefore, the first thing is to mention their mechanical and physical properties. First of all, carbon nanotubes are hollow cylinder of pure carbon and they are then thousands times smaller than the diameter of human hair (5:2). In addition to that, they make stronger than the bonds that are found in diamond (3:1). When they are subjected to high pressure carbon nanotubes merge tighter and produce strong, unlimited-length wires through high-pressure linking (3:1). Furthermore, carbon nanotubes are extremely strong, stiff and relatively ductile (1:1). They are low densities (1:1) Because of the physical and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes, they are used in many useful mechanical applications. To start with, they are called the ultimate fibers because of their strength (1:1). As a result, they are promising in reinforcement in composite materials (1:1). Moreover, they are used to be filled with biological molecules and in some cases they are used for heat dissipation (3:2). Finally, they are used to simulate the function of natural ceramic crystal in bone (2:1). B. Electrical Applications Nanotubes are used in many electrical applications. Because of that, only few examples of using nanotubes in electrical and electronics are offered. To start with, there are much electrical equipment such as TV

and stereos that are made from using nanotubes (4:2). In addition, there are many electronic devices such as memory chips that are made by using nanotubes (6:5). For example, nanotubes random access memory (NRAM) is a powerful memory chip (6:5). Another chip that is made by carbon nanotubes is fast-access memory (RAM) (6:5). III. ADVANTAGES OF CARBON NANOTUBES In the previous part, the applications of nanotechnologies have been mentioned. It is clear that carbon nanotubes have implored many areas in mechanical and electrical applications. The main reason for that is because of their advantages. Therefore, their advantages can be divided into two areas. The first one is the mechanical advantages and the second one is the electrical advantages. A. Mechanical Advantages The main reason that enables nanotubes to be used in many mechanical applications is because of their mechanical advantages. So, this section overviews some of these advantages. To start with, these nanotubes are highly irregular in size and quality and that makes them suitable for many different areas (3:2). In addition, they have high degree of uniformity (3:2). Finally, carbon nanotubes are used in many mechanical applications because of their strength (3:3). B. Electrical Advantages Furthermore, there are many electrical advantages of carbon nanotubes. Therefore, they are used in many electrical advantages. First of al, when moving indium back and fourth inside a carbon nanotubes, they indium will not lose any atom during the movement process (5:3). It means that the energy is saved and transported completely in the tube. Finally, when using carbon nanotubes in production, they offer new perfect repeatability (6:5). As a result of these advantages, carbon nanotubes are being used in many applications. CONCLUSION Carob nanotubes can be defined as the science of manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale. This science is newly started when scientists noticed the behavior of carbon molecules. After that, this science has started to be part of important plans for developing many

areas. Because of the advantages of carbon nanotubes, they have been used in many mechanical and electrical applications.

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