CARBON-NANOTUBES

TECHNICAL SEMINAR
PRESENTED BY : SHUHAB-U-TARIQ
USN : 1SI03EC109

OUTLINE

CARBON NANOTUBES
Definition
Structure
Classification
Properties
Applications
Drawbacks
Conclusion

Definition

Carbon Nanotubes

allotropes of carbon.

extremely thin hollow

cylinders made of
carbon atoms.

cylinderical fullerenes.

Structure

The name is derived from their size.

The diameter of a nanotube is

about 10000 to 50000 times smaller
than the width of a human hair.

Nanotubes are composed entirely of

sp bonds, similar to those of graphite.
This bonding structure (stronger than sp
bonds found in diamond) is responsible
for their unique strength.

Classification of Carbon Nanotubes

Based on Conductivity
metallic
semiconducting

Based on Chirality
zig-zag
armchair
chiral

Based on Layers
single-walled
multi-walled

Classification based on Conductivity

The conductance of a CNT is

mainly affected by its chirality.

Twisting is found to transform

a metallic nanotube to a semiconducting one with a band-gap
that varies with the twist angle.

Metallic nanotubes can carry

extremely large current densities.
Semiconducting nanotubes can be
electrically switched ON & OFF as
FETs.The two types can also be
joined covalently.

Classification based on Chirality

Described by chiral
vector (n,m) where
n & m are integers of
vector =n,

R = na1 + ma2

If R-vector lies along

the armchair line, i.e.
If =0 Armchair

If =30

If 0<<30 Chiral

Zig-Zag

Chirality Classification Contd.

Chirality Classification Contd.

n=m
-- m=0
-- otherwise ---

armchair
zig-zag
chiral

Conductivity & Chirality

If (n-m)/3 = 0 , tube is metallic

If (n-m)/3 0 , tube is semi-conducting

Armchair (n=m) tubes are metallic

Zig-Zag (m=0) & Chiral tubes are semi-conducting

Classification based on Layers

Single-walled CNTs

SWNTs have one shell of

C-atoms in a hexagonal
arrangement.

They can be thought of as

a sheet of graphite rolled
into a cylinder of about 1.2
to 1.4 nms in diameter.

Layers Classification Contd.

Multi-walled CNTs

MWNTs consist of multiple

concentrically nested C-tubes.

Russian Doll model MWNTs

Parchment model MWNTs

PROPERTIES

Size :

0.6 to 1.8 nm in diameter.

Density :

1.33 to 1.40 grams/cm.

To make a comparison, Aluminium has a density of 2.7 grams/cm.

Tensile strength :
45 billion Pa. In comparison, high strength steel alloys break at
about 2 billion pascals. High Elastic Modulus of about 1 TPa.

Resilience :

Can be bent at large angles easily (high ductility) and re-straightened

without damage.

PROPERTIES CONTD.

Current carrying capacity :

Estimated at a 1 billion amps/cm. i.e. more than 1000 times
greater than metals such as silver & copper--(Cu-wires burn at about 1 million amps/cm).

Heat transmission :
Predicted to be as high as 6,000 watts per meter per kelvin at
room temperature. Compare this to copper (a metal well known for
its thermal conductivity) which only transmits 385 W/m/K.

Temperature stability :

Stable up to 2,800 C in vacuum, 750 C in air.

PROPERTIES CONTD.

Defects

In the form of atomic vacancies.

Stone Wales Defect creation of pentagonal and

heptagonal pair by rearrangement of bonds.

Tensile strength dependent on the weakest segment.

Lowered conductivity through defective region of tube.

Applications of Carbon-nanotubes

The physical properties of C-nanotubes make them of

potential use in nanotechnology engineering.

Energy Storage (for fuel cells)

Composite Materials
Field Emitting Devices (flat panel displays)
X-rays to go : CNTs could shrink machines
Nanotube Chemical Sensors
CNTs used for Cheaper Desalination

Applications Contd.

Transistors

Basic building blocks of ICs.

CNT acts as a channel between source &

drain in a CNT-FET.

Gain of CNT-transistor is 10-100 times more

than Si-transistors used for present day ICs.

Applications Contd.

Disadvantage of these conventional CNT-FETs.

Electric current significantly fluctuates with time.

Current-voltage characteristic exhibits a hysterisis.

Diagram of a conventional CNT-FET ( IBM Nanoscience Department )

 Successful development of a CNT-FET with an operational

stability more than 1000 times than that of conventional
CNT-FETs.

 Surface of CNT covered with Silicon-nitride film

Applications Contd.

Stability of new CNT-FET almost 1000 times more.

Applications Contd.

Removal of time & voltage instability leading to a

successful development of CNT-FETs.

Drawbacks of Carbon-nanotubes

Cost approx.$1,500 per gram.

High-quality nanotubes produced in very limited
quantities commercial nanotube soot costs 10
times as much as gold.
Polydispersity in nanotube type. Cant be
produced selectively.
Lack of synthesis & purification methods.
Separation of CNTs after synthesis.
No control over CNT length & chirality.

Conclusion
The Next Big Thing Is Really Small

The remarkable properties of CNTs appear destined to

open up a host of new practical applications & help
improve our understanding of basic physics at
nanometer-scale.

CNTs envisioned to be the most viable candidates to

dominate the 21st century revolution in nanotechnology.

References

Physics of Carbon-nanotubes (by M. S.Dresselhaus and R.Saito, M.I.T)

Nanotubes for Electronics (by Philip G.Collins and Phaedon Avouris)
Carbon Nanotube Applications in Microelectronics (by G.S.Dusberg)
Carbon Nanotubes for Electronic Applications (by W.I.Milne, Cambridge University)
Carbon Nanotubes (by Anthony Kendall and Elizabeth Pfaff)
Phisical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes (by Thomas A. Adams)
http://www.nanotech-now.com
http://www.azonano.com
www.research.ibm.com/nanoscience/nanotubes.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube
www.knowledgefoundation.com/nanotubes2000.html
www.nature.com/nature/journal/v439/n7074/abs/439281a.html
www.amazon.com/Carbon-Nanotubes-Synthesis-Properties-Applications/dp/3540410864
www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2001/andrews/nanotubes-uses.html